I. ˈmōd.]iv, -ōt], ]ēv also ]əv; in senses 4 and 5 “ or mōˈtēv noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French motif, from motif, adjective, moving, causing to move, from Medieval Latin motivus, from Latin motus (past participle of movēre to move) + -ivus -ive — more at move
1.
a. : something within a person (as need, idea, organic state, or emotion) that incites him to action
ordinarily his motive is a wish to … avoid unfavorable notice and comment — Thorstein Veblen
b. : the consideration or object influencing a choice or prompting an action
the principal motive of American policy — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich
the motive for the crime
2. obsolete : a prompting force or incitement working on a person to influence volition or action : mover , instigator , cause
nature, whose motive in this case should stir me most — Shakespeare
am I the motive of these tears — Shakespeare
3. obsolete : a part of the body capable of movement
her wanton spirits look out at every joint and motive of her body — Shakespeare
4.
[French, from Middle French, motive]
a. : the guiding or controlling idea in an artistic work or in one of its parts
b. : motif 1b
5.
[German motiv, from French motif ]
: theme , subject ; specifically : a leading phrase or figure that is reproduced and varied through the course of a musical composition or movement — compare leitmotiv
Synonyms:
motive , spring , impulse , incentive , inducement , spur , and goad can mean, in common, a stimulus prompting a person to act in a particular way. motive can apply to any emotion, desire, or appetite operating on the will of a person and moving him to act
the habit so prevalent with us of always seeking the motive of everyone's speech or behavior — W.C.Brownell
shielding her husband's murderer, from whatever motives of pity or friendship — Rose Macaulay
it was the deepest motive of her soul, this self mistrust — D.H.Lawrence
spring , usually in the plural, is usually interchangeable with motive , possibly more frequently applying to a hidden or not fully recognized stimulus to action
the springs and consequences of international policy — David Mitrany
the mysteriously working emotional springs of human action
impulse stresses impetus or driving power rather than an effect; in a general sense, it can apply to any strong incitement to activity, especially one deriving from personal temperament or constitution
the religious impulse and the scientific impulse — Havelock Ellis
one strong impulse that bound them together — their common love of fine horses — Sherwood Anderson
the extraordinary vitality of the critical impulse in American letters — C.I.Glicksberg
the impulse that led to the evolution of man — Joshua Whatmough
but in a more special use it applies to a spontaneous, often irrational urge to do something
the first impulse of a child in a garden is to pick every attractive flower — Bertrand Russell
suffered an odd impulse to get up and kick his chair over — Mary Austin
incentive applies chiefly to a cause inciting or encouraging to action, applying commonly to some external reward
his love for the family was a strong incentive to continued effort in their behalf
money is not the only incentive to work, nor the strongest — G.B.Shaw
the only incentive to travel … was the luxury of the accommodation — O.S.Nock
inducement implies an external influence and often a purposeful attempt to entice to action
the chief inducements to serve were the pension and the right of citizenship which awaited a soldier on his discharge — John Buchan
a community that … holds young people and offers inducements to them to stay and help build a greater home town — J.C.Penney
free gas was offered to factories as an inducement for locating in towns — American Guide Series: Ind.
spur applies to any impetus which can stir to action or increase energy or ardor in an action already undertaken
fear or despair may be a temporary spur to action — Saturday Review
under the spur of his annoyance — Hamilton Basso
Russia with its drive for warm water ports, China with its inexorable pressure of population — they, too, have a physical spur to expansive policies — Barbara Ward
goad can apply to anything that strongly incites to action or keeps one in action against one's will or desire
the threat of … aggression was a standing goad to the defense effort — New York Times
was … a goad for an indolent writer — Van Wyck Brooks
II. ˈmōd.]iv, -ōt], ]ēv also ]əv adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French motif, from Medieval Latin motivus — more at motive I
1. : moving or tending to move to action
motive arguments
2. : having or concerned with the function of initiating action
the motive nerves
3. : of or relating to motion or the causing of motion
motive energy
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: motive (I)
: motivate 1