MOTIVE
NOUNS
► ACHESOUN occasion, reason, purpose, motive → c1330 obs.
► ANGLE an ulterior motive, a hidden purpose → 1929 Amer. sl.
► BUG UNDER THE CHIP an ulterior motive → 1885 Amer. dial.
► MAINSPRING the chief motive power; the main incentive → c1695
► PULL an ulterior and hidden motive → 1812 sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► MOTIVE-GRINDER a person who laboriously or sophistically analyses the motives of others → 1834 obs.
► MOTIVE-HUNTER a person who looks for a motive to justify his or her actions or to explain those of another → 1905
► MOTIVE-MILLWRIGHT a person who laboriously or sophistically analyses the motives of others → 1834 obs.
► MOTIVE-MONGER a person given to indiscriminately or uncritically ascribing motives to people → 1762
VERBS
► READ SOMEONE LIKE A BOOK to understand someone’s motives or intentions fully
Lexicophilia 