mid-14c., "something brought forward," from Old French motif "will, drive, motivation," noun use of adjective, literally "moving," from Medieval Latin motivus "moving, impelling," from Latin motus "a moving, motion," past participle of movere "to move" (see move (v.)). Meaning "that which inwardly moves a person to behave a certain way" is from early 15c.
motive (adj.)
late 14c., from Old French motif "moving" or directly from Medieval Latin motivus "moving, impelling," from past participle stem of movere "to move" (see move (v.)).
雙語例句
1. Sheila had an ulterior motive for trying to help Stan.
希拉想幫助斯坦是另有所圖的。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The motive of the executions would be to instil fear.
執(zhí)行死刑的動機(jī)是要灌輸恐懼。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.