From Latin 'motivus' (moving) — English borrowed the same French word twice: as 'motive' (14th c.) and 'motif' (19th c.).
A reason for doing something; a factor or circumstance that induces a person to act; (adjective) producing physical or mechanical motion.
From Old French 'motif' (that which causes motion, an impulse, a theme in music or art), from Late Latin 'mōtīvus' (moving, causing motion, impelling), from Latin 'mōtus' (motion, movement), past participle of 'movēre' (to move, to stir, to set in motion), from PIE *mewH- (to push away, to move). The PIE root *mewH- is the source of Latin 'movēre' and its entire derivative family: 'motion,' 'motor,' 'moment' (moving instant), 'momentum' (moving quantity), 'mobile,' 'mobility,' 'emotion' (moved out), 'commotion' (moved together), 'remote' (moved back), 'remove,' 'promote' (moved forward), and 'demote' (moved down). The word passed