Chapter 1005

Motive <Xpage=948>

Mo"tive (?) , n. [F. motif , LL. motivum , from motivus moving, fr. L. movere , motum , to move. See Move .] 1. That which moves; a mover. [Obs.]

Shak.

2. That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object.

By motive , I mean the whole of that which moves , excites, or invites the mind to volition, whether that be one thing singly, or many things conjunctively. J. Edwards.

3. (Mus.) The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive , under Leading . [Written also motivo .]

4. (Fine Arts) That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.

Syn. -- Incentive; incitement; inducement; reason; spur; stimulus; cause. -- Motive , Inducement , Reason . Motive is the word originally used in speaking of that which determines the choice. We call it an inducement when it is attractive in its nature. We call it a reason when it is more immediately addressed to the intellect in the form of argument.

Motive <Xpage=948>

Mo"tive , a. Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power . " Motive faculty."

Bp. Wilkins.

Motive power (Mach.) , a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover.

Motive <Xpage=948>

Mo"tive (?) , v. t. To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

Motiveless <Xpage=948>

Mo"tive*less , a. Destitute of a motive; not incited by a motive. -- Mo"tive*less*ness , n.

G. Eliot.

Motivity <Xpage=948>

Mo*tiv"i*ty (?) , n. [See Motive , n. ] 1. The power of moving or producing motion.

2. The quality of being influenced by motives. [R.]

Motivo <Xpage=948>

Mo*ti"vo (?) , n. [It. See Motive , n. ] See Motive , n. , 3, 4.

Motley <Xpage=948>

Mot"ley (?) , a. [OE. mottelee , motle ; cf. OF. mattel\'82 clotted, curdled, OF, ciel mattonn\'82 a mottled sky, mate , maton , curdled milk, Prov. G. matte curd. Cf. Mottle .] 1. Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; party-colored; as, a motley coat .

2. Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley , n. , 1. "A motley fool."

Shak.

3. Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley style .

Byron.

Motley <Xpage=948>

Mot"ley , n. 1. A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool. Chaucer . " Motley 's the only wear." Shak .

2. Hence, a jester, a fool. [Obs.]

Shak.

Man of motley , a fool. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Motley-minded <Xpage=948>

Mot"ley-mind`ed (?) , a. Having a mind of a jester; foolish.

Shak.

Motmot <Xpage=948>

Mot"mot (?) , n. [Cf. Momot .] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of long-tailed, passerine birds of the genus Momotus , having a strong serrated beak. In most of the species the two long middle tail feathers are racket-shaped at the tip, when mature. The bird itself is said by some writers to trim them into this shape. They feed on insects, reptiles, and fruit, and are found from Mexico to Brazil. The name is derived from its note. [Written also momot .]

Moto <Xpage=948>

Mo"to (?) , n. [It.] (Mus.) Movement; manner of movement; particularly, movement with increased rapidity; -- used especially in the phrase con moto , directing to a somewhat quicker movement; as, andante con moto , a little more rapidly than andante , etc.

Moton <Xpage=948>

Mo"ton (?) , n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Anc. Armor) A small plate covering the armpit in armor of the 14th century and later.

Motor <Xpage=948>

Mo"tor (?) , n. [L., fr. movere , motum , to move.] 1. One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of mechanical power.

2. (Mach.) A prime mover; a machine by means of which a source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity, etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.

Motor, Motory, Motorial <Xpage=948>

Mo"tor (?) , Mo"to*ry (?) , Mo*to"ri*al (?) , a. [L. motorius that has motion. See Motor , n. ] Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion; -- applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to muscles, thereby causing motion.

Motorman <Xpage=948>

Mo"tor*man (?) , n. A man who controls a motor.

Motorpathic <Xpage=948>

Mo`tor*path"ic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to motorpathy.

Motorpathy <Xpage=948>

Mo*tor"pa*thy (?) , n. [L. motor a mover + Gr. <?/, <?/, to suffer.] (Med.) Kinesiatrics.

Motte <Xpage=948>

Motte (?) , n. [Cf. F. motte a clod, clump, or hillock.] A clump of trees in a prairie. [Local, U.S.]

Mottle <Xpage=948>

Mot"tle (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mottled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mottling (?) .] [From Mottled .] To mark with spots of different color, or shades of color, as if stained; to spot; to maculate.

Mottle <Xpage=948>

Mot"tle , n. A mottled appearance.

Mottled <Xpage=948>

Mot"tled (?) , a. [From Motley .] Marked with spots of different colors; variegated; spotted; as, mottled wood . "The mottled meadows."

Drayton.

Motto <Xpage=948>

Mot"to (?) , n. ; pl. Mottoes (#) . [It. motto a word, a saying, L. muttum a mutter, a grunt, cf. muttire , mutire , to mutter, mumble; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Mot a word.] 1. (Her.) A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievment.

2. A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim.

It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, ... "Serve God, and be cheerful." Addison.

Mottoed <Xpage=948>

Mot"toed (?) , a. Bearing or having a motto; as, a mottoed coat or device .

Motty <Xpage=948>

Mot"ty (?) , a. Full of, or consisting of, motes. [Written also mottie .] [Scot.]

The motty dust reek raised by the workmen. H. Miller.

Mouchoir <Xpage=948>

Mou`choir" (?) , n. [F.] A handkerchief.

Mouazzin <Xpage=948>

Mou*az"zin (?) , n. [F.] See Muezzin .

Mouflon <Xpage=948>

Mouf"lon (?) , n. [F. mouflon .] (Zo\'94l.) A wild sheep ( Ovis musimon ), inhabiting the mountains of Sardinia, Corsica, etc. Its horns are very large, with a triangular base and rounded angles. It is supposed by some to be the original of the domestic sheep. Called also musimon or musmon . [Written also moufflon .]

Mought <Xpage=948>

Mought (?) , obs.imp. of May . Might.

Mouillation <Xpage=948>

Mouil*la"tion (?) , n. [See Mouill\'82 .] (Phon.) The act of uttering the sound of a mouill\'82 letter.

Mouill\'82 <Xpage=948>

Mouil`l\'82" (?) , a. [F., lit., wet.] (Phon.) Applied to certain consonants having a "liquid" or softened sound; e.g. , in French, l or ll and gn (like the lli in million and ni in minion ); in Italian, gl and gn ; in Spanish, ll and \'a4 ; in Portuguese, lh and nh.

Mould, Moulder, Mouldy <Xpage=948>

Mould (?) , Mould"er (?) , Mould"y (?) , etc. See Mold , Molder , Moldy , etc.

Moule <Xpage=948>

Moule (?) , v. i. [OE. moulen . See Mold .] To contract mold; to grow moldy; to mold. [Obs.]

Let us not moulen thus in idleness. Chaucer.

Mouline, Moulinet <Xpage=948>

Mou*line" (?) , Mou"li*net (?) , n. [F. moulinet , orig., a little mill, dim. of moulin mill. See Mill .] 1. The drum upon which the rope is wound in a capstan, crane, or the like.

2. A machine formerly used for bending a crossbow by winding it up.

3. In sword and saber exercises, a circular swing of the weawon.

Moult <Xpage=948>

Moult (?) , v. & n. See Molt .

Moulten <Xpage=948>

Moult"en (?) , a. Having molted. [Obs.] "A moulten raven."

Shak.

Moun <Xpage=948>

Moun (?) , v. , pl. of Mow , may. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Mounch <Xpage=948>

Mounch (?) , v. t. To munch. [Obs.]

Mound <Xpage=948>

Mound (?) , n. [F. monde the world, L. mundus . See Mundane .] A ball or globe forming part of the regalia of an emperor or other sovereign. It is encircled with bands, enriched with precious stones, and surmounted with a cross; -- called also globe .

Mound <Xpage=948>

Mound , n. [OE. mound , mund , protection, AS. mund protection, hand; akin to OHG. munt , Icel. mund hand, and prob. to L. manus . See Manual .] An artificial hill or elevation of earth; a raised bank; an embarkment thrown up for defense; a bulwark; a rampart; also, a natural elevation appearing as if thrown up artificially; a regular and isolated hill, hillock, or knoll.

To thrid the thickets or to leap the mounds . Dryden.

Mound bird . (Zo\'94l.) Same as Mound maker (below). -- Mound builders (Ethnol.) , the tribe, or tribes, of North American aborigines who built, in former times, extensive mounds of earth, esp. in the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Formerly they were supposed to have preceded the Indians, but later investigations go to show that they were, in general, identical with the tribes that occupied the country when discovered by Europeans. -- Mound maker (Zo\'94l.) , any one of the megapodes. -- Shell mound , a mound of refuse shells, collected by aborigines who subsisted largely on shellfish. See Midden , and Kitchen middens .

Mound <Xpage=948>

Mound , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mounded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounding .] To fortify or inclose with a mound.

Mount <Xpage=948>

Mount (?) , n. [OE. munt , mont , mount , AS. munt , fr. L. mons , montis ; cf. L. minae protections, E. eminent , menace : cf. F. mont . Cf. Mount , v. , Mountain , Mont , Monte , Montem .] 1. A mass of earth, or earth and rock, rising considerably above the common surface of the surrounding land; a mountain; a high hill; -- used always instead of mountain , when put before a proper name; as, Mount Washington ; otherwise, chiefly in poetry.

2. A bulwark for offense or defense; a mound . [Obs.]

Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem. Jer. vi. 6.

3. [See Mont de pi\'82t\'82 .] A bank; a fund.

Mount of piety . See Mont de pi\'82t\'82 .

Mount <Xpage=948>

Mount , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mounted (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounting .] [OE. mounten , monten , F. monter , fr. L. mons , montis , mountain. See Mount , n. (above).] 1. To rise on high; to go up; to be upraised or uplifted; to tower aloft; to ascend; -- often with up .

Though Babylon should mount up to heaven. Jer. li. 53.

The fire of trees and houses mounts on high. Cowley.

2. To get up on anything, as a platform or scaffold; especially, to seat one's self on a horse for riding.

3. To attain in value; to amount.

Bring then these blessings to a strict account, Make fair deductions, see to what they mount . Pope.

Mount <Xpage=948>

Mount , v. t. 1. To get upon; to ascend; to climb.

Shall we mount again the rural throne? Dryden.

2. To place one's self on, as a horse or other animal, or anything that one sits upon; to bestride.

3. To cause to mount; to put on horseback; to furnish with animals for riding; to furnish with horses. "To mount the Trojan troop."

Dryden.

4. Hence: To put upon anything that sustains and fits for use, as a gun on a carriage, a map or picture on cloth or paper; to prepare for being worn or otherwise used, as a diamond by setting, or a sword blade by adding the hilt, scabbard, etc.

5. To raise aloft; to lift on high.

What power is it which mounts my love so high? Shak.

&hand; A fort or ship is said to mount cannon, when it has them arranged for use in or about it.

To mount guard (Mil.) , to go on guard; to march on guard; to do duty as a guard. -- To mount a play , to prepare and arrange the scenery, furniture, etc., used in the play.

Mount <Xpage=948>

Mount , n. [From Mount , v. ] That upon which a person or thing is mounted , as: (a) A horse.

She had so good a seat and hand, she might be trusted with any mount . G. Eliot.

(b) The cardboard or cloth on which a drawing, photograph, or the like is mounted; a mounting .

Mountable <Xpage=948>

Mount"a*ble (?) , a. Such as can be mounted.

Mountain <Xpage=948>

Moun"tain (?) , n. [OE. mountaine , montaine , F. montagne , LL. montanea , montania , fr. L. mons , montis , a mountain; cf. montanus belonging to a mountain. See 1st Mount .] 1. A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land; earth and rock forming an isolated peak or a ridge; an eminence higher than a hill; a mount.

2. pl. A range, chain, or group of such elevations; as, the White Mountains .

3. A mountainlike mass; something of great bulk.

I should have been a mountain of mummy. Shak.

The Mountain ( La montagne ) (French Hist.) , a popular name given in 1793 to a party of extreme Jacobins in the National Convention, who occupied the highest rows of seats.

<page="949"> Page 949

Mountain <Xpage=949>

Moun"tain (?) , a. 1. Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains; among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines; mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.

2. Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great.

The high, the mountain majesty of worth. Byron.