From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum, neuter of motivus.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈməʊtɪv/
• (America) IPA: /ˈmoʊtɪv/

motive (plural motives)

1. (obsolete) An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting. [14th]
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC ↗, partition III, section 2, member 1, subsection ii:

     there's something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive.

2. An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action. [from 15th c.]

   Synonyms: motivation

   • 1947, Malcolm Lowry, Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock:

     Many of them at first seemed kind to him, but it turned out their motives were not entirely altruistic.

3. (obsolete, rare) A limb or other bodily organ that can move. [15th]
   • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene v]:

     every joint and motive of her body

4. (law) Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour. [from 18th c.]

   What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?

   No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best.

5. (architecture, fine arts, music) Alternative form of motif

   If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive.

• French: motif, mobile
• German: Motiv, Beweggrund
• Italian: motivo
• Portuguese: motivo
• Russian: моти́в
• Spanish: motivo, móbil

• French: thème, motif
• Russian: моти́в
• Spanish: motivo

• French: motif
• Russian: моти́в

motive (motives, present participle motiving; simple past and past participle motived)

1. (transitive) To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

   Synonyms: motivate

• French: motiver

motive (not comparable)

1. Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move

   Synonyms: moving

   a motive argument

   motive power

   • 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, Folio Society, published 2007, page 195:

     In the motive parts of animals may be discovered mutuall proportions; not only in those of Quadrupeds, but in the thigh-bone, legge, foot-bone, and claws of Birds.

2. Relating to motion and/or to its cause

   Synonyms: motional

• French: moteur
• Russian: дви́жущий

• French: mobile, mouvant