Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring, primum mobile [Lat.], keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con, reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee [Fr.]; intention &c 620. inducement, consideration; attraction; loadstone; magnet, magnetism, magnetic force; allectation†, allective†; temptation, enticement, agacerie†, allurement, witchery; bewitchment, bewitchery; charm; spell &c 993; fascination, blandishment, cajolery; seduction, seducement; honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple. persuasibility†, persuasibleness†; attractability†; impressibility, susceptibility; softness; persuasiveness, attractiveness; tantalization†. influence, prompting, dictate, instance; impulse, impulsion; incitement, incitation; press, instigation; provocation &c (excitation of feeling) 824; inspiration; persuasion, suasion; encouragement, advocacy; exhortation; advice &c 695; solicitation &c (request) 765; lobbyism; pull [Slang]. incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus†, rowel, provocative, whet, dram. bribe, lure; decoy, decoy duck; bait, trail of a red herring; bribery and corruption; sop, sop for Cerberus. prompter, tempter; seducer, seductor†; instigator, firebrand, incendiary; Siren, Circe; agent provocateur; lobbyist. V. induce, move; draw, draw on; bring in its train, give an impulse &c n.; to; inspire; put up to, prompt, call up; attract, beckon. stimulate &c (excite) 824; spirit up, inspirit; rouse, arouse; animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate; act upon, work upon, operate upon; encourage; pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder. influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate; lead by the nose; have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon; go round, come round one; turn the head, magnetize; lobby. persuade; prevail with, prevail upon; overcome, carry; bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses; draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over; procure, enlist, engage; invite, court. tempt, seduce, overpersuade†, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure; inveigle; tantalize; cajole &c (deceive) 545. tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook. enforce, force; impel &c (push) 276; propel &c 284; whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge; egg on, hound, hurry on; drag &c 285; exhort; advise &c 695; call upon &c; press &c (request) 765; advocate. set an example, set the fashion; keep in countenance. be persuaded &c; yield to temptation, come round; concede &c (consent) 762; obey a call; follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of; act on principle. Adj. impulsive, motive; suasive, suasory†, persuasive, persuasory†, hortative, hortatory; protreptical†; inviting, tempting, &c v.; suasive, suasory†; seductive, attractive; fascinating &c (pleasing) 829; provocative &c (exciting) 824. induced &c v.; disposed; persuadable &c (docile) 602; spellbound; instinct with, smitten with, infatuated; inspired &c v.; by. Adv. because, therefore &c (cause) 155; from this motive, from that motive; for this reason, for that reason; for; by reason of, for the sake of, count of; out of, from, as, forasmuch as. for all the world; on principle. Phr. fax mentis incendium gloriae [Lat.]; temptation hath a music for all ears [Willis]; to beguile many and be beguiled by one [Othello]. 615a. Absence of Motive — N. absence of motive, aimlessness; caprice &c 608; chance &c (absence of design) 621. V. have no motive; scruple &c (be unwilling) 603. Adj. without rhyme or reason; aimless, capricious, whimsical &c (chance) 621. Adv. out of mere caprice.