mo´tive|less

mo´tive|less
mo|tive «MOH tihv», noun, adjective, verb, -tived, -tiv|ing.
–n.
1. a thought or feeling that makes a person act; moving consideration or reason: »

His motive in going away was a wish to travel. The poor savages…had merely gathered together through motives of curiosity (Washington Irving).

 SYNONYM(S): incentive. See syn. under reason. (Cf. ↑reason)
2. a motif in art, literature, or music: »

a beautiful motive of festoons.

3. Music. a) the briefest intelligible melodic or rhythmic fragment of a theme or subject. b) = subject. (Cf. ↑subject) c) = leitmotif. (Cf. ↑leitmotif)
–adj.
that makes something move. See also motive power. (Cf. ↑motive power)
–v.t.
to provide with a motive; supply a motive.
╂[< Late Latin mōtīvus moving, impelling < Latin movēre to move. See etym. of doublet motif. (Cf. ↑motif)]
–mo´tive|less, adjective.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • tive — ab·duc·tive; ab·duc·tive·ly; ab·er·ra·tive; ab·re·ac·tive; ab·sorp·tive; ab·strac·tive; ac·cel·er·a·tive; ac·com·mo·da·tive; ac·cre·tive; ac·cul·tur·a·tive; ac·cu·mu·la·tive; ac·quis·i·tive; ac·quis·i·tive·ness; adapt·a·tive; ad·duc·tive;… …   English syllables

  • mo|tive — «MOH tihv», noun, adjective, verb, tived, tiv|ing. –n. 1. a thought or feeling that makes a person act; moving consideration or reason: »His motive in going away was a wish to travel. The poor savages…had merely gathered together through motives… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pal´li|a´tive|ly — pal|li|a|tive «PAL ee AY tihv», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. useful to lessen or soften; mitigating: »Treatment turns out to be only palliative at best; the truth is they are schizos, whose psychic split is too wide ever to be healed (Harper s). 2.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pal|li|a|tive — «PAL ee AY tihv», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. useful to lessen or soften; mitigating: »Treatment turns out to be only palliative at best; the truth is they are schizos, whose psychic split is too wide ever to be healed (Harper s). 2. tending or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • writ|a|tive — «RY tuh tihv», adjective. disposed or inclined to write; given to writing: »Increase in years makes men more talkative, but less writative (Alexander Pope) …   Useful english dictionary

  • motiveless — mo·tive·less …   English syllables

  • motivelessly — mo·tive·less·ly …   English syllables

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • per — per·acetic; per·acid; per·act; per·acute; per·alkaline; per·aluminous; per·am·bu·lant; per·am·bu·late; per·am·bu·la·tion; per·am·bu·la·tor; per·am·bu·la·to·ry; per·a·na·kan; per·bend; per·borate; per·bromide; Per·bu·nan; per·ca; per·cale;… …   English syllables

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