noun

1. some inner drive, impulse, intention, etc. that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way; incentive; goal
2. motif (sense )

Etymology: ME motif < OFr motif (adj.) < ML motivus, moving < L motus, pp. of movere, to move

adjective

1. of, causing, or tending to cause motion
2. Rare of, or having the nature of, a motive or motives

Etymology: ML motivus

transitive verb motived -·tived, motiving -·tiv·ing