{Motive power} (Mach.), a natural agent, as water, steam,
wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to
machinery; a motor; a mover.
2. That which incites to action; anything prompting or
exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason;
inducement; object.
By motive, I mean the whole of that which moves,
excites, or invites the mind to volition, whether
that be one thing singly, or many things
conjunctively. --J. Edwards.
3. (Mus.) The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage
which is reproduced and varied through the course of a
comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of
which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading
motive, under {Leading}. [Written also {motivo}.]
4. (Fine Arts) That which produces conception, invention, or
creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his
subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a
work of art, or any part of one.
Syn: Incentive; incitement; inducement; reason; spur;
stimulus; cause.
Usage: {Motive}, {Inducement}, {Reason}. Motive is the word
originally used in speaking of that which determines
the choice. We call it an inducement when it is
attractive in its nature. We call it a reason when it
is more immediately addressed to the intellect in the
form of argument.