MOTIVE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French motif, ~, from motif, adjective, moving, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus, past participle of movēre to move Date: 15th century something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act, a recurrent phrase or figure that is developed through the course of a musical composition, motif , ~less adjective ~lessly adverb motivic adjective Synonyms: see: ~ II. adjective Etymology: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French motif, from Medieval Latin motivus Date: 1502 moving or tending to move to action, of or relating to motion or the causing of motion , III. transitive verb (~d; motiving) Date: circa 1650 motivate