Motive \Mo"tive\, a. Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power. ``Motive faculty.'' --Bp. Wilkins. {Motive power} (Mach.), a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover.
motive power n : the power or ability to move [syn: {locomotion}, {motivity}]