motive
1 of 2noun/ˈmoʊtɪv/
Forms:motives
1
a reason or purpose behind someone's actions or behavior
- Revenge was suspected as the motive for the vandalism.
- She had a clear motive for volunteering at the shelter—it was her passion.
- His motive for quitting the job was to pursue a better opportunity.
- Money was the main motive for his involvement in the scheme.
- The student's motive for working hard was to earn a scholarship.
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2
a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration
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3
a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
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