motiving

Variant of motive

motive definition

mo·tive (mōt′iv)

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

to supply a motive for; motivate

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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