motif
[ moh-teef ]
/ moʊˈtif /
noun
a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper.
a dominant idea or feature: the profit motif of free enterprise.
Origin of motif
From French, dating back to 1840–50; see origin at
motive
Words nearby motif
Example sentences from the Web for motif
British Dictionary definitions for motif
motif
/ (məʊˈtiːf) /
noun
a distinctive idea, esp a theme elaborated on in a piece of music, literature, etc
Also: motive
a recurring form or shape in a design or pattern
a single added piece of decoration, such as a symbol or name on a jumper, sweatshirt, etc
Word Origin for motif
C19: from French. See
motive
Cultural definitions for motif
motif
[ (moh-teef) ]
In literature, art, or music, a recurring set of words, shapes, colors, or notes. In the poem “The Raven,” by Edgar Allan Poe, for example, the word nevermore is a motif appearing at the end of each stanza. Likewise, the first four notes of the Fifth Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven are a motif that is developed and reshaped throughout the work.