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mo·tive

(mōtĭv)

1. An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action.

2. (mōtĭv, mō-tēv) A motif in art, literature, or music.

adj.

1. Causing or able to cause motion: motive power.

2. Causing an action: motive pleas.

[Middle English motif, motive, from Old French motif, from Late Latin mōtīvus, of motion, from Latin mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move; see meuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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