motivation (motivashon)

[ II . n . motive (motiv), a. and n. [I. a. = Sp. Pg. It. motivo, Jer. Taylor , Works (ed. 1835), Ι. 67. Motive power or force. (a) The whole power or force acting upon any body or quantity of matter to move it. (b) Moving or impelling force in a figurative sense. Such men as Spenser are not sent into the world to be part of its motive power . Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 166. (c) That which moves, as a locomotive; in railroading, the locomotives collectively of a railroad: as, the superintendent of the motive power. II. n. 1. A mental state or force which induces an act of volition; a determining impulse; specifically, a desire for something; a gratification contemplated as the final cause of a certain action of the one desiring it. The term motive is also loosely applied to the object desired. The noun motive , in this sense, was brought into general use by writers influenced by Hobbes (though he uses the adjective only), who held that men's actions are always governed by the strongest motive, and denied the freedom of the will. It is now, however, in common literary and conversational use, apart from any theory. What moves the mind, in every particular instance, to determine its general power of directing to this or that particular motion or rest? And to this I answer, the mo tive , for continuing in the same state or action is only the present satisfaction in it; the motive to change is always some uneasine . Locke , Human Understanding, II. xxi. § 29. Without another life, all other motives to perfection will be insufficient. Bp . Atterbury , Sermons, I. xi., Pref. Shak., All's Well, iv. 4. 20. Nor are they living Who were the motives that you first went out. Shak ., T. of A., v. 4. 27. Man of motleyt, a man dre ed in motley; a fool. Never hope, Fletcher , Wit without Money, iii. 4. II. a. 1. Party-colored; variegated in color; consisting of different colors: as, a motley coat. Dryden. Expence and after-thought, and idle care, And doubts of motley hue, and dark despair. 2. Composed of or exhibiting a combination of discordant elements; heterogeneous in compo- Motley color, in ceram . , a kind of metallic luster given to some kinds of English pottery, in the seventeenth cen- tury and later, by dusting them with powdered lead and motleyt (mot'li), v. t. [ motley , n. Cf. mot- tle.] To variegate; give different colors to. The course of th' holy Lakes he leads, With you sand Dies hee motleys all the meades. motley-minded (mot'li-minded), a. Having a mind or character like that of a profes- sional fool or clown; exhibiting incoherence Suche motyues the i moeue this maistres in her glorie, And maken men in mysbileue that muse moc he on her IMG:content-1001.png:[blocks in formation] Shak., As you Like it, v. 4. 41. motlyt, n. and a . An obsolete spelling of mot- ley . motmot (mot'mot), n. [Also momot ; said to be so named from the bird's note, which sounds like mot - mot , slowly repeated.] A bird of the family Momotida or Prionitida ; a sawbill. These birds are peculiar to America, inhabiting tropical and subtropi. cal forests, and ranging north nearly or quite to Texas. The average size is about that of the jays, to which they have some superficial resemblance; but they are more like the bee-eaters of the Old World, Meropidæ , having a simi- lar slender form, with long tail, of which the middle fea- thers project beyond the rest and are spatulate, forming a kind of racket. The bill is serrate, the coloration is varie- gated, chiefly greenish and bluish. These birds are of soli- tary habits, like kingfishers, to which they are closely re- lated; they feed upon reptiles, insects, and fruits. See cut under Momotus . moto (mōtō), n. [It., = Pg. moto , motus , motion: see mote5 .] In music: (a) Motion; the direction in which the harmonic parts move: as, moto contra rio (contrary motion). See mo- tion, 14. (b) Energetic or spirited movement; spirit: as, con moto (with spirited movement). motograph (mōtō-graf), n. [ motus , mo- tion, + Gr. γράφειν , write.] A form of telegraph- or telephone-receiver, invented by Edison, de- pending for its action on the variation of the friction between two conductors in relative mo- tion, when a current of electricity is pa ed from one to the other acro the surface of contact. A revolving drum is interposed in the circuit, one of the electrical connections being made through a movable ter- tact-piece is connected to a recording lever or to a telephon- ic diaphragm, and, in consequence of the variations of the to record, or the diaphragm to repeat, the me age. sation. See vasomotor .-Motor printer, a printing tele- graph in which the mechanism is moved by electric, steam, or other motive power. motor-car (mō'tor-kär), n. A car which car- ries its own propelling mechanism, as an elec- tric motor, pneumatic engine, steam-engine, etc., and is therefore a locomotive. Many such cars have sufficient power to draw other cars attached to them. motorial (mō-to'ri-al), a. [ motory ), + -al.] Of or pertaining to motion; specifically, of or pertaining to a motor nerve; motor, as a nerve: as, motorial There are models of . the automatic and autographic telegraph, the motographic translator and repeater. Elect. Rev. (Amer.), XIV. 5. mot on1t, n. An obsolete form of mutton . mot on2+ (mo'ton), n. [OF. (1).] A piece of ar- mor of the fifteenth century, forming part of the part of an organism which moves or is moved, defense of the arm and shoulder. Perhaps (as thought by Meyrick) it was a gu et for the motonert, n. See muttoner . motophone (moto-fon), n. [L. motus, mo- ated by aërial sound-waves, invented by Edison. Vibrations of a diaphragm, produced, as in the phonograph, by sound-waves, are converted into motion of rotation by a stylus and ratchet-wheel. motor (motor), n . and a. [= F. moteur = Sp. Pg. motor = It. motore , a motor, movere , pp. motus , move: see more .] I. n . 1. One who or that which imparts motion; a source or originator of mechanical power; a moving power, as water, steam, etc. Specifically-2. In math . , an operator or a quantity which represents the displacement of a rigid body. It involves the designation of a particu, lar line in space, and the a ociation with it of a length and an angle. motor pathic (mō-tor-path'ik), a. [ path -y + -ic.] Of or belonging to motorpathy or the movement-cure; kines i therapeutic. motorpathy (mộ - tôr path i), n . [Irreg. motor , a mover (see motor ), + Gr. -παθεια , pathos .] In med ., the movement- cure; kinesitherapy. motory (moto-ri), a . [= Pg. motorio , motor i us , moving, motor , mover: see mo- tor, n.] Same as motor or motorial . mott1t. An obsolete preterit of mete . mott2t, n. An obsolete form of mot2. motteleyt, n. and a. An obsolete form of motley . [It.: see motet .] mottle mottle (mot'l), v. t.; pret. and pp. mottled, ppr. mottling. [ Mottle with mazy shades the orchard's slope. Southey, Roderick, xv.