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mo•tive

Pronunciation: (mō'tiv), [key]
—n., adj., v., -tived, -tiv•ing.

—n.
1. something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
2. the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.
3. (in art, literature, and music) a motif.

—adj.
1. causing, or tending to cause, motion.
2. pertaining to motion.
3. prompting to action.
4. constituting a motive or motives.

—v.t.
to motivate.