motif

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: mo=tif

CIDE DICTIONARY

motif, n. [F.].

•  Motive.  [1913 Webster]
•  In literature and the fine arts, a salient feature or element of a composition or work; esp., the theme, or central or dominant feature;  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  "This motif, of old things lost, is a favorite one for the serious ballade."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  "The design . . . is . . . based on the peacock -- a motif favored by decorative artists of all ages."  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A decorative appliqué design or figure, as of lace or velvet, used in trimming; also, a repeated design.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

motif, n.
1 a distinctive feature or dominant idea in artistic or literary composition.
2 Mus. = FIGURE n. 10.
3 an ornament of lace etc. sewn separately on a garment.
4 an ornament on a vehicle identifying the maker, model, etc.

Etymology

F (as MOTIVE)

THESAURUS

motif

action, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture, argument, atmosphere, background, background detail, basis, beading, binding, bordering, bordure, burden, case, catastrophe, chapter, characterization, color, complication, concept, concern, continuity, contrivance, convention, decoration, decorative composition, decorative style, denouement, design, detail, development, device, edging, element, episode, essence, fable, falling action, figure, fimbria, fimbriation, flounce, focus of attention, focus of interest, foil, foreground detail, form, frill, frilling, fringe, furbelow, galloon, gimmick, gist, head, heading, hem, idea, incident, issue, leitmotif, leitmotiv, line, list, living issue, local color, main point, matter, matter in hand, meat, mood, motive, movement, mythos, national style, ornament, ornamental motif, pattern, period style, peripeteia, phrase, plan, plot, point, point at issue, point in question, problem, question, recognition, refrain, repeated figure, rising action, rubric, ruffle, scheme, secondary plot, selvage, setting, skirting, slant, story, structure, style, subject, subject matter, subject of thought, subplot, substance, switch, text, thematic development, theme, tone, topic, touch, trimming, twist, valance, welt