| motif definitions |
| # | Definition | Sets |
| 1 | theme | 64 sets |
| 2 | a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 43 sets |
| 3 | a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work | 37 sets |
| 4 | a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works | 23 sets |
| 5 | (n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 21 sets |
| 6 | a recurring theme, subject or idea | 18 sets |
| 7 | a principle idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 15 sets |
| 8 | a recurrent image word phrase represented object or action that tends to unify the literary work or that may be elaborated into a more general theme | 13 sets |
| 9 | a design that consists of recurring shapes or colors | 11 sets |
| 10 | a theme or idea in a work of art or literature that is developed or repeated | 10 sets |
| 11 | recurring ideas, images, and actions that tend to unify a work | 10 sets |
| 12 | a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work | 10 sets |
| 13 | main theme | 9 sets |
| 14 | a recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature | 9 sets |
| 15 | a recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. | 9 sets |
| 16 | (n) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 8 sets |
| 17 | recurring theme | 7 sets |
| 18 | the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters. | 7 sets |
| 19 | theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure | 7 sets |
| 20 | a single or repeated design or color | 7 sets |
| 21 | a theme or idea in a work of art or literature that is developed or repeated. | 7 sets |
| 22 | a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work. | 7 sets |
| 23 | a recurring theme or idea | 6 sets |
| 24 | theme that is developed or repeated | 6 sets |
| 25 | *a recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. | 6 sets |
| 26 | a subset of theme, it is a reappearing object or thing that is symbolic of something. | 6 sets |
| 27 | a decorative design or pattern | 6 sets |
| 28 | a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in design | 6 sets |
| 29 | a dominant idea or central theme | 6 sets |
| 30 | a dominant feature | 6 sets |
| 31 | a repeated element | 6 sets |
| 32 | a recurring important idea or image | 5 sets |
| 33 | a short musical idea or melodic theme, usually shorter than a musical phrase | 5 sets |
| 34 | a subject, an idea or a phrase that is repeated and developed in a work of literature | 5 sets |
| 35 | a recurring theme, subject, or idea | 5 sets |
| 36 | a principal idea or feature; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 5 sets |
| 37 | n. theme | 5 sets |
| 38 | the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters | 5 sets |
| 39 | a recurring feature in a work of literature | 5 sets |
| 40 | main theme or subject of a work that is elaborated on in the development of the piece; a repeated pattern or idea | 5 sets |
