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Motive

2 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means a reason for a person's action or behavior
1
Stage 1 of 2
motivus
Medieval Latin · medieval
"causing motion"
moving, causing motion, from movere (to move)
2
Stage 2 of 2
motive
English · 1400s
"the reason behind a person's action"
settled as the English word for the reason behind an action
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