°An
incentive to act; a
reason for doing something; anything that prompted a choice of action.
"''Although his questions seemed strange to me, I'm sure he had a good motive for asking them."
°(alternative spelling of motif) a
theme or
subject, especially one that is central to the work or often repeated.
"If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive."
°Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power.