motivity en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English motivity From motive + -ity.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) The power to cause movement, especially as an inherent mental faculty.
The soul is what moves the body and perceives sensible objects; it is characterized by self-nutrition, sensation, thinking, and motivity (413b); but the mind has the higher function of thinking, which has no relation to the body or to the senses.
1945, Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy:
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(countable, uncountable) Driving force, drive; creative power, invention.
This is the prime motivity. And the motivity of sex is subsidiary to this: often directly antagonistic.
1922, DH Lawrence, Fantasia of the Unconscious:
- (countable, uncountable) Movement, mobility.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| motivities | Number=Plur | lexicographic |