motief

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch motief, from Middle Dutch motijf, from French motif, from Latin mōtīvus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mʊə̯ˈtif/

Noun

motief (plural motiewe)

1. A motive.

   Sy wil haar familielede en vriende help en dit is haar motief om lid te word van die hulporganisasie.

   She wants to help out her relatives and friends and that is her reason for becoming a member of the aid organisation.

2. (art, music) A motif, a pattern.

   Daar is geen motiewe in hierdie kuns, alleen maar improvisasie nie.

   There are no motifs in this art, there's only improvisation.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch motijf, from Old French motif, from Latin mōtīvus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /moːˈtif/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: mo‧tief
• Rhymes: -if

Noun

motief n (plural motieven, diminutive motiefje n)

1. A motive.

   De motief voor de moord, haar andere misdaden, haar carrière, zelfs al haar relaties was alleen maar poen, doekoe, pegels, ja geld, geld, geld.

   The motive for the murder, her other crimes, her career, even all of her relations was nothing but moolah, jack, spondulicks, yes money, money, money.

   Hij had de gelegenheid, maar geen motief.

   He had the opportunity, but no motive.

2. (art, music) A motif, a pattern.

   Dit motief komt acht keer in deze opera.

   That motif occurs eight times in this opera.

   Deze stof heeft een motief dat bestaat uit vierkantjes.

   This fabric has a motif consisting of little squares.

Descendants

• Afrikaans: motief
• → Indonesian: motif