Anagram Solver

Definitions for Motive

[1] something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
[2] the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.
[3] (in art, literature, and music) a motif.
[4] causing, or tending to cause, motion.
[5] pertaining to motion.
[6] prompting to action.
[7] constituting a motive or motives.
[8] to motivate.
[9] a combining form of motive: automotive.
[10] the reason for a certain course of action, whether conscious or unconscious
[11] a variant of motif (def. 2)
[12] of or causing motion or action a motive force
[13] of or acting as a motive; motivating
[14] to motivate

Words related to Motive

emotion, motivation, impulse, influence, idea, aim, intention, intent, rationale, consideration, passion, feeling, cause, antecedent, incitement, end, basis, thinking, spring, object

Words nearby Motive

motionless, motivate, motivation, motivation research, motivational research, motive, motive power, motivic, motivity, motlanthe, motley

Origin of Motive

1325–75; (adj.) Middle English (< Middle French motif ) < Medieval Latin mōtīvus serving to move, equivalent to Latin mōt(us ) (past participle of movēre to move) + -īvus -ive; (noun) Middle English (< Middle French motif ) < Medieval Latin mōtīvum, noun use of neuter of mōtīvus

Other words from Motive

mo·tive·less , adjective
mo·tive·less·ly , adverb
mo·tive·less·ness , noun
well-mo·tived , adjective

Word origin for Motive

C14: from Old French motif, from Late Latin mōtīvus (adj) moving, from Latin mōtus, past participle of movēre to move

Synonyms for Motive

aim, cause, consideration, emotion, feeling, idea, impulse, influence, intent, intention, motivation, passion, rationale, antecedent, basis, design, determinant, drive, end, grounds, incentive, incitement, inducement, inspiration, mainspring, object, occasion, root, spring, spur, stimulus, thinking