n. [ F. ] Motive. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In literature and the fine arts, a salient feature or element of a composition or work; esp., the theme, or central or dominant feature; specif. (Music), a motive{ 3 }. See also leitmotif. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

This motif, of old things lost, is a favorite one for the serious ballade. R. M. Alden. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The design . . . is . . . based on the peacock -- a motif favored by decorative artists of all ages. R. D. Benn. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. (Dressmaking) A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming; also, a repeated design. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. [ L. motus motion (fr. movere to move) + facere to make. ] Producing motion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Motive. ] 1. (Biol.) Exhibiting, or capable of, spontaneous movement; as, motile bacteria, motile protozoa, motile cilia, motile spores, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. Producing motion; as, motile powers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Psychol.) A person whose prevailing mental imagery takes the form of inner feelings of action, such as incipient pronunciation of words, muscular innervations, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. motilité. ] (Physiol.) Capability of motion; contractility. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Motioned p. pr. & vb. n. Motioning. ] 1. To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make proposal; to offer plans. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head; as, to motion one to a seat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To propose; to move. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I want friends to motion such a matter. Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. See Move. ] 1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; -- opposed to rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace
attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Power of, or capacity for, motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Devoid of sense and motion. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east. [ 1913 Webster ]

In our proper motion we ascend. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mus.) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is that when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when parts move in the same direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A puppet show or puppet. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What motion's this? the model of Nineveh? Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound.
Simple motions are: (a) straight translation, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. (b) Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called oscillating. (c) Helical, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating.
Compound motion consists of combinations of any of the simple motions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Center of motion,
Harmonic motion, etc. See under Center, Harmonic, etc. --
Motion block (Steam Engine), a crosshead. --
Perpetual motion (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces independently of any action from without. According to the law of conservation of energy, such perpetual motion is impossible, and no device has yet been built that is capable of perpetual motion. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Syn. -- See Movement. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. of or pertaining to motion. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who makes a motion; a mover. Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]