Where does “motive” come from?
Motive comes from Middle French motif, which derives from Middle Latin motivus meaning "moving" or "causing motion."
motive (English): An idea or communication that makes one want to...
Definitions
- An idea or communication that makes one want to...
Ancestry of “motive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | motif | — |
| 2 | Middle French | motif | — |
Words derived from “motive”