15 uses
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1 —6 uses as in:
What is her motive?
Definition
a reason for doing something
- To the possibility of motives unanswerable in themselves, though unavoidably secret for a while?Chapter 15 (53% in)
- Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the will of his mother.Chapter 3 (28% in)
- Some mothers might have encouraged the intimacy from motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died very rich; and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended on the will of his mother.Chapter 3 (29% in)
- She expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on herself.Chapter 31 (9% in)
- It was an office in short, from which, unwilling to give Edward the pain of receiving an obligation from HER, she would have been very glad to be spared herself;— but Colonel Brandon, on motives of equal delicacy, declining it likewise, still seemed so desirous of its being given through her means, that she would not on any account make farther opposition.Chapter 39 (80% in)
- Mrs. Dashwood was acting on motives of policy as well as pleasure in the frequency of her visits at Delaford; for her wish of bringing Marianne and Colonel Brandon together was hardly less earnest, though rather more liberal than what John had expressed.Chapter 50 (69% in)
There are no more uses of "motive" flagged with this meaning in Sense and Sensibility.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
? —9 uses
exact meaning not specified
- Edward was, of course, immediately convinced that nothing could have been more natural than Lucy's conduct, nor more self-evident than the motive of it.Chapter 49 (58% in)
- Elinor could not deny the truth of this, and she tried to find in it a motive sufficient for their silence.Chapter 16 (22% in)
- The motive was too common to be wondered at; but the means, however they might succeed by establishing his superiority in ill-breeding, were not likely to attach any one to him except his wife.Chapter 20 (38% in)
- Could you have a motive for the trust, that was not honourable and flattering to me?Chapter 24 (6% in)
- Whatever Marianne was desirous of, her mother would be eager to promote—she could not expect to influence the latter to cautiousness of conduct in an affair respecting which she had never been able to inspire her with distrust; and she dared not explain the motive of her own disinclination for going to London.Chapter 25 (39% in)
- Elinor, pleased to have her governed for a moment by such a motive, though believing it hardly possible that she could sit out the dinner, said no more; and adjusting her dress for her as well as she could, while Marianne still remained on the bed, was ready to assist her into the dining room as soon as they were summoned to it.Chapter 30 (11% in)
- "—he cried, after hearing what she said—"what could be the Colonel's motive?"Chapter 41 (34% in)
- "I do not know," said he, after a pause of expectation on her side, and thoughtfulness on his own,—"how YOU may have accounted for my behaviour to your sister, or what diabolical motive you may have imputed to me.Chapter 44 (16% in)
- And even now, I cannot comprehend on what motive she acted, or what fancied advantage it could be to her, to be fettered to a man for whom she had not the smallest regard, and who had only two thousand pounds in the world.Chapter 49 (55% in)
There are no more uses of "motive" in Sense and Sensibility.
Typical Usage
(best examples)