Webster's English Dictionary

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incentive

Cross references:
  1. motive                
 
in.cen.tive \in-'sent-iv\ n [ME, fr. LL incentivum, fr. neut. of incentivus 
   stimulating, fr. L,] setting the tune, fr. incentus, pp. of incinere to set 
   the tune, fr. in- + canere to sing - more at CHANT : something that incites 
   or has a tendency to incite to determination or a ction - incentive aj