motive

1. The psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal;
   The reason for the action;
   That which gives purpose and direction to behavior (synset 100023953)
   "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"
   is a type of: psychological feature - a feature of the mental life of a living organism
   subtypes:

   • life - a motive for living
   • rational motive - a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument
   • irrational motive - a motivation that is inconsistent with reason or logic
   • impulse, urge - an instinctive motive
   • ethical motive, ethics, morality, morals - motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
   • mental energy, psychic energy - an actuating force or factor
   same as: motivation, need
2. A theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music (synset 107043169)
   is a type of: idea, melodic theme, musical theme, theme - (music) melodic subject of a musical composition
   subtypes: obbligato, obligato - a persistent but subordinate motif
   same as: motif
3. A design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration (synset 103794547)
   is a type of: design, figure, pattern - a decorative or artistic work
   same as: motif

1. Causing or able to cause motion (synset 300325379)
   "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"
   similar to: causative - producing an effect
   same as: motor
2. Impelling to action (synset 300325093)
   "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"
   similar to: causative - producing an effect
   same as: motivating, motivative

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