A reason for doing something; the underlying cause or driving force behind an action or behavior.
From Latin 'motivus' meaning 'causing motion,' derived from 'movere' (to move). The word originally referred to something that literally caused physical movement, but by the 16th century had developed its psychological meaning of internal drive or reason.
In criminal law, establishing motive is crucial but not always required for conviction - you can prove someone committed a crime without proving why they did it, though motive certainly helps convince juries. The word reveals our deep human need to understand the 'why' behind actions, not just the 'what' or 'how.'
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