GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Motive , n. [F. motif, LL. motivum, from motivus moving, fr. L. movere, motum, to move. See Move.]
   That which moves; a mover. [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object; motivation{2}.
   1913 Webster
   By motive, I mean the whole of that which moves, excites, or invites the mind to volition, whether that be one thing singly, or many things conjunctively.
   J. Edwards.
   
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   (Mus.) The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive, under Leading. [Written also motivo.]
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   (Fine Arts) That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.
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   Syn. -- Incentive; incitement; inducement; reason; spur; stimulus; cause.  -- Motive, Inducement, Reason. Motive is the word originally used in speaking of that which determines the choice. We call it an inducement when it is attractive in its nature. We call it a reason when it is more immediately addressed to the intellect in the form of argument.
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2.       
   Motive, a. Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power. “Motive faculty.” 
   Bp. Wilkins.
   
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   Motive power (Mach.), a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover.
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3.       
   Motive , v. t. To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.
   1913 Webster