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

  1. Motif as a noun:

    A recurring or dominant element; a theme.

    Examples:

    "See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?"

  2. Motif as a noun (music):

    A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work.

  3. Motif as a noun:

    A decorative figure that is repeated in a design or pattern.

  4. Motif as a noun (dressmaking):

    A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming.

  5. Motif as a noun (crystallography):

    The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  1. Motive as a noun (obsolete):

    An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.

  2. 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"

  3. Motive as a noun (obsolete, rare):

    A limb or other bodily organ that can move.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  4. 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."

  5. Motive as a noun (architecture, fine arts):

    A motif.

  6. 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."

  1. Motive as a verb (transitive):

    To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

    Examples:

    "synonyms: motivate"

  1. Motive as an adjective:

    Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move

    Examples:

    "a motive argument"

    "'motive power"

    "synonyms: moving"

  2. Motive as an adjective:

    Relating to motion and/or to its cause

    Examples:

    "synonyms: motional"

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