Definition: motivation

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

motivation
     n : the psychological feature that arouses an organism to
         action; the reason for the action; "we did not understand
         his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"
         [syn: motive, need]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Motivate \Mo"ti*vate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -vated; p. pr. &
   vb. n. -vating.] [From Motive, n.]
   To provide with a motive; to move; impel; induce; incite. --
   Mo`ti*va"tion, n. --William James.