The difference between Motif and Motive
When used as nouns, motif means a recurring or dominant element, whereas motive means an idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources.
Motive is also verb with the meaning: to prompt or incite by a motive or motives.
Motive is also adjective with the meaning: causing motion.
check bellow for the other definitions of Motif and Motive
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Motif as a noun:
A recurring or dominant element; a theme.
Examples:
"See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?"
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Motif as a noun (music):
A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.
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Motif as a noun:
A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.
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Motif as a noun (dressmaking):
A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.
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Motif as a noun (crystallography):
The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
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Motif as a noun (chess):
A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
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Motif as a noun (biochemistry):
In a nucleotide or amino-acid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.
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Motive as a noun (obsolete):
An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.
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Motive as a noun:
An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.
Examples:
"synonyms: motivation"
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Motive as a noun (obsolete, rare):
A limb or other bodily organ that can move.
Examples:
"rfquotek Shakespeare"
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Motive as a noun (law):
Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.
Examples:
"What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?"
"No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best."
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Motive as a noun (architecture, fine arts):
A motif.
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Motive as a noun (music):
A motif; a theme or subject, especially one that is central to the work or often repeated.
Examples:
"If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive."
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Motive as a verb (transitive):
To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.
Examples:
"synonyms: motivate"
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Motive as an adjective:
Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move
Examples:
"a motive argument"
"'motive power"
"synonyms: moving"
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Motive as an adjective:
Relating to motion and/or to its cause
Examples:
"synonyms: motional"