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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Motive, Motif, a. Also: motyve, -eve, -iwe, -ywe; motife, -yf, -eiff. [e.m.E. motyve (1502), -ive, yfe (1541), med. L. motiv-us, OF. motif.]Also Moty vill and Motivit a.

1. a. Of the heavenly spheres in mediæval astronomy: That moves or causes motion. 1456 Hay II. 113/15.
Astronomy … is dividit … in the cercleis motives and in the posicioun of the planetis [etc.]

b. In medicine: Vertue motive, ability to move oneself or one's limbs, mobility. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 14.
Inlaik of vertue motiue or appetite fra the begyning with imperfectioun of speche and stinkand breithe

2. Chiefly motive will, will motive, volition that motivates or induces to action.Chiefly of one's awin (fre, also propir) motive will, of one's own volition, freely and without coercion: commonly as a legal formula applied to legal acts.(1) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 451.
I think the lufe that cummis on will motiue It is far mair till allow [etc.](2) 1520 Prot. Bk. J. Foular II. 72.
And thair the said David Wichtman uncoakit or compellit bot of his awin fre motif will [etc.] 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 48. 1538 Breadalbane Doc. No. 49.
Of his awin propir motif will 1544 Misc. Spald. C. II. 272.
Motife 1557 Inverness Rec. I. 6.
Akit of his awyn motyf fre wyl … to … pay [etc.] Ib. 27. 1582 Elgin Treas. Acc. in D. Donaldson Cramondiana (Elgin, 1965) 57.
Of his awin frie moteiff will(b) 1530 Reg. Privy S. II. 73/1.
Of his aune fre motive will 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 144.
Nother coackit … bot of ther awin motywe will 1549 Banff Ann. I. 24.
Of thair awin fre and moteve will [etc.] 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 222.
Movit of pite toward his wyf, of his awyn fre motyve wyll 1569 Q. Mary in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lix.
We of our awin motiue frie will and mynd haif [etc.] 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 684.
Bayth the partiis … of thair awin motive willis submittit [etc.] 1578 Inverness Rec. I. 262.
Motywe 1583 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 100. 1583–4 Perth B. Ct. 25 Feb.
Of his awine proper motive will for lufe … promittit to pay [etc.] 1587 Melville Chart. 130.
Motiwe 1589 Orkney Misc. I. 39. 1655 Rothesay B. Rec. 4.
Voluntarlie of hir awin frie motive will upone proffitabill and foirsein causes 1674 Beale Fife Schools 184.