reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring,
primum mobile [Lat.], keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con,
reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee [Fr.]; intention &c 620.
inducement, consideration; attraction; loadstone; magnet,
magnetism, magnetic force; allectation†, allective†; temptation,
enticement, agacerie†, allurement, witchery; bewitchment, bewitchery;
charm; spell &c 993; fascination, blandishment, cajolery; seduction,
seducement; honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens
forbidden fruit, golden apple.
persuasibility†, persuasibleness†; attractability†; impressibility,
susceptibility; softness; persuasiveness, attractiveness;
tantalization†.
influence, prompting, dictate, instance; impulse, impulsion;
incitement, incitation; press, instigation; provocation &c (excitation
of feeling) 824; inspiration; persuasion, suasion; encouragement,
advocacy; exhortation; advice &c 695; solicitation &c (request) 765;
lobbyism; pull [Slang].
incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus†, rowel,
provocative, whet, dram.
bribe, lure; decoy, decoy duck; bait, trail of a red herring;
bribery and corruption; sop, sop for Cerberus.
prompter, tempter; seducer, seductor†; instigator, firebrand,
incendiary; Siren, Circe; agent provocateur; lobbyist.
V. induce, move; draw, draw on; bring in its train, give an impulse &c
n.; to; inspire; put up to, prompt, call up; attract, beckon.
stimulate &c (excite) 824; spirit up, inspirit; rouse, arouse;
animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate; act upon,
work upon, operate upon; encourage; pat on the back, pat on the
shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder.
influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose,
turn the scale, inoculate; lead by the nose; have influence with, have
influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise
influence over, exercise influence upon; go round, come round one; turn
the head, magnetize; lobby.
persuade; prevail with, prevail upon; overcome, carry; bring round
to one's senses, bring to one's senses; draw over, win over, gain over,
come over, talk over; procure, enlist, engage; invite, court.
tempt, seduce, overpersuade†, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate,
bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure; inveigle;
tantalize; cajole &c (deceive) 545.
tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver
hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan,
throw a sop to, bait the hook.
enforce, force; impel &c (push) 276; propel &c 284; whip, lash,
goad, spur, prick, urge; egg on, hound, hurry on; drag &c 285; exhort;
advise &c 695; call upon &c; press &c (request) 765; advocate.
set an example, set the fashion; keep in countenance.
be persuaded &c; yield to temptation, come round; concede &c
(consent) 762; obey a call; follow advice, follow the bent, follow the
dictates of; act on principle.
Adj. impulsive, motive; suasive, suasory†, persuasive, persuasory†,
hortative, hortatory; protreptical†; inviting, tempting, &c v.; suasive,
suasory†; seductive, attractive; fascinating &c (pleasing) 829;
provocative &c (exciting) 824.
induced &c v.; disposed; persuadable &c (docile) 602; spellbound;
instinct with, smitten with, infatuated; inspired &c v.; by.
Adv. because, therefore &c (cause) 155; from this motive, from that
motive; for this reason, for that reason; for; by reason of, for the
sake of, count of; out of, from, as, forasmuch as.
for all the world; on principle.
Phr. fax mentis incendium gloriae [Lat.]; temptation hath a music for
all ears [Willis]; to beguile many and be beguiled by one [Othello].
615a. Absence of Motive — N. absence of motive, aimlessness; caprice
&c 608; chance &c (absence of design) 621.
V. have no motive; scruple &c (be unwilling) 603.
Adj. without rhyme or reason; aimless, capricious, whimsical &c
(chance) 621.
Adv. out of mere caprice.