motives

mo-tives · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of motive; reasons for doing something.

  2. 2.

    The underlying reasons or purposes behind actions.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    question someone's motives — To doubt the sincerity of someone's reasons
  • •
    hidden motives — Secret reasons that are not openly stated

Related words

See also: motivation, motive

Etymology

Plural of motive, from Medieval Latin motivus ("serving to move"), from Latin movere ("to move").