Main Entry:

mo·tif

Pronunciation:

\mō-ˈtēf\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, motive, motif, from Middle French — more at motive

Date:

1848

1: a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts) ; especially : a dominant idea or central theme2: a single or repeated design or color

— mo·tif·ic \-ˈtē-fik, -ˈti-\ adjective