leitmotif

Est. 1828

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leitmotif
noun
leit·;mo·;tif ;l;t-m;-;t;f
variants or less commonly leitmotiv
1
: an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation especially in a Wagnerian music drama
2
: a dominant recurring theme


Did you know?
The English word leitmotif (or leitmotiv, as it is also spelled) comes from the German Leitmotiv, meaning “leading motive,” and is formed from the verb leiten (“to lead”) and the noun Motiv (“motive”). In its original sense, the word applies to opera music; it was first used by writers interpreting the works of composer Richard Wagner, who was famous for associating a melody with a character or important dramatic element. Leitmotif is still commonly used with reference to music and musical drama but it is now also used more broadly to refer to any recurring theme in the arts—“The Imperial March,” heard in the Star Wars film franchise whenever Darth Vader appears on screen, for example—or in everyday life.


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What exactly is a motif? And how is it different from a leitmotif?

In works of art, a motif is an important and noticeable element or feature that typically appears throughout the work. It can relate to the theme, or it can be the dominant or central idea itself. Concepts like betrayal and forgiveness can be motifs, for example, but so can particular images and sounds, such as trees or bells. Motif is also commonly applied in design, where it typically refers to a single or repeated pattern or color. A piece of fabric might have a floral motif; a room may have a black and white motif.

Motif can also appear in scientific contexts, especially in biochemistry, where it refers to a distinctive molecular sequence or structural element that is usually recurrent.

Leitmotif (also and formerly more commonly spelled leitmotiv) has its origins in opera, and is especially associated with Wagnerian opera. The word is from the German words leit and Motif, which translate respectively as "leading" and "motive." In opera, a leitmotif is a recurring melody that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation. The term is now applied in other kinds of music, sometimes with a meaning very close to the original: "The Imperial March" that is heard in the Star Wars film franchise whenever Darth Vader appears on screen, for example, is a modern example of leitmotif.

Leitmotif also has extended use that treads the same territory as motif. It's not a common word, but when it is applied it often refers to a dominant recurring theme, as when an image consistently used in an artist's works is described as a leitmotif. Note that some people object when leitmotif is modified by a word like main or dominant, on the grounds that since German leit means "leading" the phrase is redundant. English speakers using leitmotif in English, however, may choose to ignore the objection since leit does not mean "leading" in English.

Examples of leitmotif in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her devoted readers seemed to blithely accept that her stories, with their grisly leitmotifs, were the product of a saintly lady who was making it all up, out of empathy.
—Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
The dancing bears therefore serve as an allegorical leitmotif in the book’s second half.
—Timothy Garton Ash, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2018
The Indiana Jones films are big on character leitmotifs.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
The film has an undeniably feminist leitmotif; Eunice is played not as a victim but not as an empty hero, either.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History
Etymology
German Leitmotiv, from leiten to lead + Motiv motive

First Known Use
circa 1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leitmotif was circa 1880
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