Advertisement
Advertisement
motif
[moh-teef]
noun
a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
a distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper.
a dominant idea or feature.
Pulmonary problems were a grim motif in his life.
Biochemistry., a distinct pattern of amino acids in a function-specific protein sequence.
No polyproline motif has been observed in these yeast proteins.
motif
/ məʊˈtiːf /
noun
a distinctive idea, esp a theme elaborated on in a piece of music, literature, etc
Also: motive. a recurring form or shape in a design or pattern
a single added piece of decoration, such as a symbol or name on a jumper, sweatshirt, etc
motif
In literature, art, or music, a recurring set of words, shapes, colors, or notes. In the poem “The Raven,” by Edgar Allan Poe, for example, the word nevermore is a motif appearing at the end of each stanza. Likewise, the first four notes of the Fifth Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven are a motif that is developed and reshaped throughout the work.
Word History and Origins
Origin of motif1
Example Sentences
The result was 37 paintings begun from the motif en plein air, some worked on later in the studio at Giverny.
The motif of a mad woman has popped up many times in Swift’s lyrics over the years, often as a way for the singer to wrestle with her fame and public image.
A few have Asian-inspired elements like flared or upturned columns or dormers, while others incorporate floral motifs and stained glass.
The artist-turned-filmmaker even incorporates a striking image from one of his oils — that of a translucent horselike creature — as an enigmatic visual motif that proves more ponderous than poetic.
Recurring motifs, including a trio of nondescript dogs that several workshop attendees adopted for their own mugs, adorned various Stringer originals strewn about Backhouse.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
