Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: French
Origin: Old French; MOTIVE1

motif

 noun
     
Related topics: Arts, Music
mo‧tif [countable]
1A an idea, subject, or image that is regularly repeated and developed in a book, film, work of art etc:
The theme of creation is a recurrent motif in Celtic mythology.
2 a small picture or pattern used to decorate something plain:
a white T-shirt with a blue fish motif
3APM an arrangement of notes that is often repeated in a musical work
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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