Meaning of "motive" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD MOTIVE

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

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF MOTIVE

motive  [ˈməʊtɪv]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF MOTIVE

Motive is a verb and can also act as a noun and an adjective.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb motive in English.

WHAT DOES MOTIVE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of motive in the English dictionary

The first definition of motive in the dictionary is the reason for a certain course of action, whether conscious or unconscious. Other definition of motive is of or causing motion or action. Motive is also of or acting as a motive; motivating.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO MOTIVE

PRESENT

Present

I motive

you motive

he/she/it motives

we motive

you motive

they motive

Present continuous

I am motiving

you are motiving

he/she/it is motiving

we are motiving

you are motiving

they are motiving

Present perfect

I have motived

you have motived

he/she/it has motived

we have motived

you have motived

they have motived

Present perfect continuous

I have been motiving

you have been motiving

he/she/it has been motiving

we have been motiving

you have been motiving

they have been motiving

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I motived

you motived

he/she/it motived

we motived

you motived

they motived

Past continuous

I was motiving

you were motiving

he/she/it was motiving

we were motiving

you were motiving

they were motiving

Past perfect

I had motived

you had motived

he/she/it had motived

we had motived

you had motived

they had motived

Past perfect continuous

I had been motiving

you had been motiving

he/she/it had been motiving

we had been motiving

you had been motiving

they had been motiving

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will motive

you will motive

he/she/it will motive

we will motive

you will motive

they will motive

Future continuous

I will be motiving

you will be motiving

he/she/it will be motiving

we will be motiving

you will be motiving

they will be motiving

Future perfect

I will have motived

you will have motived

he/she/it will have motived

we will have motived

you will have motived

they will have motived

Future perfect continuous

I will have been motiving

you will have been motiving

he/she/it will have been motiving

we will have been motiving

you will have been motiving

they will have been motiving

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would motive

you would motive

he/she/it would motive

we would motive

you would motive

they would motive

Conditional continuous

I would be motiving

you would be motiving

he/she/it would be motiving

we would be motiving

you would be motiving

they would be motiving

Conditional perfect

I would have motive

you would have motive

he/she/it would have motive

we would have motive

you would have motive

they would have motive

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been motiving

you would have been motiving

he/she/it would have been motiving

we would have been motiving

you would have been motiving

they would have been motiving

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you motive
we let´s motive
you motive

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to motive

Past participle

motived

Present Participle

motiving

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «MOTIVE»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «motive» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of motive

cause · design · driving · impelling · incentive · incitement · inducement · influence · inspiration · intention · mainspring · motivation · moving · object · operative · purpose · rationale · reason · spur · stimulus

TRANSLATION OF MOTIVE

Find out the translation of motive to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of motive from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «motive» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 动机
• Translator English - Spanish: motivo
• English: motive
• Translator English - Hindi: मकसद
• Translator English - Arabic: حَافِزٌ
• Translator English - Russian: мотив
• Translator English - Portuguese: motivo
• Translator English - Bengali: অভিপ্রায়
• Translator English - French: mobile
• Translator English - Malay: Motif
• Translator English - German: Motiv
• Translator English - Japanese: 動機
• Translator English - Korean: 동기
• Translator English - Javanese: Motif
• Translator English - Vietnamese: động cơ
• Translator English - Tamil: நோக்கம்
• Translator English - Marathi: हेतू
• Translator English - Turkish: güdü
• Translator English - Italian: motivo
• Translator English - Polish: motyw
• Translator English - Ukrainian: мотив
• Translator English - Romanian: motiv
• Translator English - Greek: κίνητρο
• Translator English - Afrikaans: motief
• Translator English - Swedish: motiv
• Translator English - Norwegian: motiv

10 QUOTES WITH «MOTIVE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word motive.

1

Cleveland Abbe

The atmosphere is much too near for dreams. It forces us to action. It is close to us. We are in it and of it. It rouses us both to study and to do. We must know its moods and also its motive forces.

2

Gary Ackerman

Looking forward, it might prove constructive to examine the true historical record of an issue prior to assuming the worst of anyone's motive and deconstructing and questioning anyone's Democratic bona fides. After all, we liberals got feelings.

3

Mortimer Adler

We acknowledge but one motive - to follow the truth as we know it, whithersoever it may lead us; but in our heart of hearts we are well assured that the truth which has made us free, will in the end make us glad also.

4

Alex Berenson

Evidence of defendants' lavish lifestyles is often used to provide a motive for fraud. Jurors sometimes wonder why an executive making tens of millions of dollars would cheat to make even more. Evidence of habitual gluttony helps provide the answer.

5

William J. Brennan, Jr.

Sex, a great and mysterious motive force in human life, has indisputably been a subject of absorbing interest to mankind through the ages.

6

Jean de la Bruyere

It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.

7

Jose Canseco

My motive, and I will make it clear and look you in the eyes, is to attack major league baseball. That's my motive.

8

Kate Chopin

Some people are born with a vital and responsive energy. It not only enables them to keep abreast of the times; it qualifies them to furnish in their own personality a good bit of the motive power to the mad pace.

9

Nathan Deal

Just because scientists have the knowledge to do it, the technology to do it, and some may even have a financial motive or other incentive to do it, does not make it right.

10

Oliver Ellsworth

A desire of gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and industry.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «MOTIVE»

Discover the use of motive in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to motive and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

The Anatomy Of Motive

But eventually, it all comes down to motive. In every case we come across, the first question we ask is Why? Why is this happening? Why does someone want to do something to this particular person or this particular company? What does the  ...

John Douglas, 2012

The Justice Motive in Everyday Life

This book contains essays in honour of Melvin J. Lerner, a pioneer in the psychological study of justice. The contributors to this volume are internationally renowned scholars from psychology, business, and law.

Michael Ross, Dale T. Miller, 2002

Ulterior Motive

After the brutal slaying of Jack Malcolm, owner of Megasoft and a presidential candidate, Megasoft project manager Jonathan Goodman witnesses the murder of another employee and strives to unravel the conspiracy before he becomes the next ...

Daniel Oran, 1998

Reflexions on the Motive Power of Fire: A Critical Edition ...

English editions (ix) Reflections on the motive power of heat and on machines fitted to develop that power. From the original French of N.L.S. Camot. Edited | and translated] by R.H. Thurston (New York: Wiley, 1890; London: Macmillan, 1890), ...

Sadi Carnot, 1986

The People Code: It's All About Your Innate Motive

In his life-changing book, Dr. Taylor Hartman introduces you to the People Code and why people do what they do.

Taylor Hartman, 2007

Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat and on MacHines ...

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... III.

Sadi Carnot, 2013

The Justice Motive as a Personal Resource: Dealing with ...

This is true for all people of all ages and in all areas of life, for those struggling with their daily tasks as well as for those coping with a critical life event.

Claudia Dalbert, 2001

Aurora's Motive

A fictionalized recreation of the tragedy of Aurora Rodriguez who--having raised her daughter to carry on her own socialist ideals and seeing her torn between politics and passion--ended the young woman's life

Erich Hackl, 1989

Hidden Motive

Someone had murdered her grandfather.

Hannah Alexander, 2008

Advanced Schenkerian Analysis: Perspectives on Phrase ...

Advanced Schenkerian Analysis: Perspectives on Phrase Rhythm, Motive, and Form is a textbook for students with some background in Schenkerian theory.

David Beach, 2013

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «MOTIVE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term motive is used in the context of the following news items.

FBI Still Searching For Motive In Chattanooga, Tenn., Shootings

The FBI held a press conference Wednesday to provide the latest in the Chattanooga, Tenn., shootings. Authorities say it's too early to tell if the ... «NPR, Jul 15»

Motive unclear in Laytonville slayings

Talen Clark Barton, shown in a booking photo, was arrested Sunday and jailed on two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. «Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Jul 15»

State: Divorce, money issues were motive for murder

The state claims that in addition to quarrels over child-related expenses, jealousy was an issue — and a possible motive for murder. Pamela ... «Bloomington Pantagraph, Jul 15»

Bickering with bullets? YouTube raps, Facebook taunts support …

... for Poole-Knight on the gang charge, which involves proving the defendant belonged to a gang and that the membership provided the motive ... «MLive.com, Jul 15»

Bobbi Kristina Brown: Cops Reveal A Motive For Murder!

Criminal investigators have identified a possible motive for murder and a suspect in the tragedy of Bobbi Kristina Brown, The National ... «The National Enquirer, Jul 15»

Louis Berger case: Opposition questions Goa government motive

As the Congress and AAP in Goa on Wednesday said the BJP-led government had much to hide in the Louis Berger bribery case, the state ... «Business Standard, Jul 15»

Chattanooga Shooter Was Possibly Troubled; Motive a Mystery

Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez was supposed to appear in court next week for driving under the influence of alcohol. Instead authorities are ... «ABC News, Jul 15»

Wolf Blitzer Breaks News: Tennessee Gunman's Motive Looks Like …

They finally found the motive? Oh, wow, CNN is on the case, folks, they found the motive. Well, they didn't; authorities did. Authorities now say ... «RushLimbaugh.com, Jul 15»

Killing at Wyoming detox center: City worker's anger at homeless …

Killing at Wyoming detox center: City worker's anger at homeless called motive. Associated Press. Posted: 07/21/2015 08:05:54 AM PDT. Updated: 07/21/2015 ... «San Jose Mercury News, Jul 15»

Police say drugs a motive in kidnapping in Lake City

LAKE CITY, Fla. -- Lake City Police say drugs seemed to be the motive to why two people were held against their will. Officials say one of the ... «WCJB, Jul 15»