Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman motif, motive will, drive, motivation, case, instance, and Middle French, French motif reason for action (1370), basis for an argument (1373), reason or grounds for a law, judgment, etc. (1393), and their etymon (ii) post-classical Latin motivum reason, impulse, cause (from 13th cent. in British and continental sources), that which moves or initiates motion (from early 14th cent. in British sources), consideration, matter put forward (1433 in a British source), use as noun of neuter of post-classical Latin motivus motive adj. For senses relating to the arts at branch III. see discussion s.v. motif n. Compare Old Occitan motiu (14th cent.), Spanish motivo (1435), Portuguese motivo (1651), Italian motivo motivo n., German Motiv (16th cent.).

Etymology: < (i) Middle French, French motif which causes movement (1314 in Old French; especially in medical use), which determines action (1370 in cause motive : see below), energetic, active (late 15th cent.), and its etymon (ii) post-classical Latin motivus causing motion (late 4th or early 5th cent.), that prompts, incites, or brings about (frequent in British sources from the mid 13th cent.) < classical Latin mōt- , past participial stem of movēre move v. + -īvus -ive suffix. Compare Catalan motiu (c1350), Old Occitan motiu (c1350), Spanish motivo (1428). Compare earlier motive n.With motive cause (see sense 3a s.v.) compare post-classical Latin causa motiva (1300 in a British source), Middle French, French cause motive (1370): this is apparently the only context in which the French adjective is still current. At sense 5a quot. 1579 at sense 5a and quot. 1603 at sense 5a both ultimately translate ancient Greek κινητικός, but via Middle French mouvant and motif respectively.

Etymology: < motive n. In sense 2 after German motivieren (see motivate v.); compare earlier motiviert adj. Compare French motiver (see motivate v.).