n.
Pronunciation: in- ' düs-m ə nt, - ' dyüs-
Function: noun
Date: 1594
1 : a motive or consideration that leads one to action or to additional or more effective actions
2 : the act or process of inducing
3 : matter presented by way of introduction or background to explain the principal allegations of a legal cause, plea, or defense
synonyms see MOTIVE