Other Definitions
motive (enc)
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Motive| Noun | 1. | motive - the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"life - a motive for living; "pottery was his life" rational motive - a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument impulse, urge - an instinctive motive; "profound religious impulses" | | | 2. | motive - a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of musicmelodic theme, musical theme, theme, idea - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition; "the theme is announced in the first measures"; "the accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it" | | | Adj. | 1. | motive - causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"causative - producing an effect; "poverty as a causative factor in crime" | | | 2. | motive - impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"causative - producing an effect; "poverty as a causative factor in crime" | |
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