1
Stage 1 of 3
motivus
Medieval Latin · medieval
"causing motion, a motive"
moving, causing motion, from movere (to move)
2
Stage 2 of 3
motif
French · 1800s
"a recurring design element or theme"
carried into French artistic vocabulary for a recurring design element
3
Stage 3 of 3
motif
English · 1848
"a recurring theme or design element"
settled as the English word for a recurring artistic or musical theme
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