from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Motion \Mo"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to
move. See {Move}.]
1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position;
movement; the passing of a body from one place or position
to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; -- opposed
to {rest}.
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Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace
attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms.
--Milton.
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2. Power of, or capacity for, motion.
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Devoid of sense and motion. --Milton.
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3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of
the planets is from west to east.
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In our proper motion we ascend. --Milton.
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4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything;
action of a machine with respect to the relative movement
of its parts.
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This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its
motion. --Dr. H. More.
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5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or
impulse to any action; internal activity.
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Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his
heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from
God. --South.
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6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress;
esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly;
as, a motion to adjourn.
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Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. --Shak.
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7. (Law) An application made to a court or judge orally in
open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule
directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
--Mozley & W.
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8. (Mus.) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in
the same part or in groups of parts.
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The independent motions of different parts sounding
together constitute counterpoint. --Grove.
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Note: Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale.
Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite
directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique
motion is that when one part is stationary while
another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when
parts move in the same direction.
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9. A puppet show or puppet. [Obs.]
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What motion's this? the model of Nineveh? --Beau. &
Fl.
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Note: Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound.
{Simple motions} are: ({a}) straight translation, which, if
of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. ({b})
Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or
reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called
oscillating. ({c}) Helical, which, if of indefinite
duration, must be reciprocating.
{Compound motion} consists of combinations of any of the
simple motions.
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{Center of motion}, {Harmonic motion}, etc. See under
{Center}, {Harmonic}, etc.
{Motion block} (Steam Engine), a crosshead.
{Perpetual motion} (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to
be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces
independently of any action from without. According to the
law of conservation of energy, such perpetual motion is
impossible, and no device has yet been built that is
capable of perpetual motion.
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Syn: See {Movement}.
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