motiver

Forms

motiver^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French motif + -er.^[2][3][4][1] The noun motif comes from an older adjective of the same form, “setting in motion”, taken from Late Latin mōtīvus (“moving”), from moveō (“to move”); the neuter mōtīvum was used in Medieval Latin for “motive”.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Dictionnaire de Trévoux of 1721 records it in the sense “to justify by giving reasons”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to be the reason for (something)” followed in 1790, in a letter of Gustav III of Sweden.^[2][5] The verb was used of judges, who must give the grounds of their judgements.^[6][7]

In the 20th century its use in psychology and educational psychology, “to give (someone) reasons to act, stimulate”, became the most common one.^[5] The past participle motivé became an adjective, “keen, driven”, and picked up political overtones through a protest song.^[5][8] The verb gave motivation (1899, proposed in 1845).^[5]

Timeline

• 1721 – The Dictionnaire de Trévoux records motiver “to justify by reasons”.^[2]
• 1790 – Gustav III uses it in the sense “to be the motive of”.^[2][5]
• 1899 – The derivative motivation is in use.^[5]
• 20th century – The psychological sense “to stimulate to act” spreads.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To justify by giving reasons: motiver un refus, motiver un jugement (of a court, to state its grounds).^[8][7][9]
2. (of things) To be the motive or cause of; to explain: cette erreur a motivé son départ.^[8][9]
3. To motivate, to give (someone) reasons to act; to stimulate: l'argent ne le motive pas.^[8][1]

Word family

• motivation
• remotiver
• motivé
• démotiver

Related words

• motif
• mouvoir
• Latin moveō

Usage notes

The past participle motivé is used as an adjective, of a decision that is justified (un refus motivé) and of a person who is eager to act.^[8][5]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)