motive

Meanings

• 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
  • "he acted with the best of motives"
• a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
• a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
• causing or able to cause motion
  • "a motive force"
  • "motive power"
• impelling to action; - Arthur Pap
  • "motive pleas"

Synonyms

motif, motivating, motivation, motivative, motor, need