mōˈtēf noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, motive, motif — more at motive
1.
a. : a usually recurring salient thematic element or feature (as in a work of art) ; especially : a dominant idea or central theme
the isles of the blest, the mandrake, the stone monster … there is enough material from comparative religion to elucidate these motifs — G.L.Anderson
ran like a motif through his letters of those years — Atlantic
the motif of disillusion — G.R.Hamilton
an excellent motif for a novel — Times Literary Supplement
b. : a single or repeated design or color (as in interior decoration or clothes designing)
mulberry and silver form the color motif of the decorations — New York Times
a brown necktie tastily done out in a skyscraper motif — Pierce Fredericks
c. : motive 5
flute motif
the familiar device of development by reiteration of short simple motifs with chromatic ornamentation — Henry Cowell
2. : an influence or stimulus prompting to action
the proselyting motif was not forgotten — Atlantic
the profit motif — Saturday Review
the motif of the new measure is reformation — Spectator