transitive. To operate as a motive or influence on the will or belief of (a person); to prompt, actuate, impel (to an action, or to do something).

To induce by affording grounds or an opportunity; (habitually) to urge or impel by circumstances… transitive. to a course of action. Obsolete.

to put in mind (also in a mind): to encourage, inspire, or provoke (a person) to follow a specified course of action.

transitive. To put in motion, to motivate; to actuate, animate. Obsolete.

transitive. To motivate (an action, etc.; occasionally a person); to provide with a motive or inciting cause; to give or supply a motive to; to be…

transitive. To cause (a person or animal) to act in a particular way, to motivate.

intransitive. To provide motivation for the actions of a character in a literary work. Cf. motiviert, adj. Obsolete. rare.