'Leading motive' definitions:
Definition of 'Leading motive'
From: GCIDE
- Leading \Lead"ing\, a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- {Lead"ing*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster]
- Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to be regarded as settling the law of the question involved. --Abbott.
- Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.
- Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note.
- Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.
- Leading strings, strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk.
- To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.
- Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a locomotive engine. [1913 Webster]