Sekirov Dictionary

motive

UK /ˈməʊtɪv/US /ˈmoʊtɪv/

noun 6
adjective 2
verb 1
forms 3

noun6

•
the reason or feeling behind what someone does, the thing that makes them act
- Many of them at first seemed kind to him, but it turned out their motives were not entirely altruistic. — 1947
•
Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.
- What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?
- No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best.
•
(UK) One's plans for the day or night.
- What's the motive for tonight, lads?
(UK) A party, gathering, or get-together.
•
(no longer used) An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.
- there's something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive. — 1624
(no longer used, rare) A limb or other bodily organ that can move.

adjective2

•
Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move
- In the motive parts of animals may be discovered mutuall proportions; not only in those of Quadrupeds, but in the thigh-bone, legge, foot-bone, and claws of Birds. — 1658
•
Relating to motion and/or to its cause
- Debussy's melody is fractional, fragmentary. But at the core all his music is melodic and melody is its main motive force. — 1929

verb1

To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

forms

motived · motiving · motives

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