motif

/moʊˈtif/

a recurring element that has symbolic significance

motif in a sentence

“Water is a motif representing rebirth in the novel.”

French motif motive, theme from Latin motivus moving from movere to move

Related Words

oxymoron

a combination of contradictory terms

parody

an imitation for comic effect or ridicule

pathos

a quality that evokes pity or sadness

personification

attributing human qualities to non-human things

prose

ordinary written language, as opposed to poetry

protagonist

the main character in a story