motive
1. mo.tive \'mo-t-iv, 2 is also mo--'te-v\ \-l*s\ n [ME, fr. MF motif, fr.
motif, adj., moving] 1: something (as a need or desire) that causes a
person to act 2: a recurrent thematic fragment usu. treated
developmentally in a musical compositionEMENT, SPUR, GOAD mean a stimulus
to action. MOTIVE implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and
causing it to act; SPRING, usu. in the plural, suggests a basic motive,
often one not fully recognized; IMPULSE suggests a driving power arising
from personal temperament or constitution; INCENTIVE applies to an external
influence (as an expected reward) inciting to action; INDUCEMENT suggests a
motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another;
SPUR applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy
or ardor; GOAD suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or
desire - mo.tive.less aj SYN syn MOTIVE, SPRING, IMPULSE, INCENTIVE, INDUC
2. mo.tive \'mo-t-iv\ aj [MF or ML; MF motif, fr. ML motivus, fr. L motus,
pp.] 1: moving or tending to move to action 2: of or relating to motion or
the causing of motion {~ energy}
3. mo.tive \'mo-t-iv\ vt : MOTIVATE