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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

LEITMOTIF

Leit "mo *tif ", n. Etym: [G.] (Mus. )

 

Defn: See Leading motive, under Leading, a.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

leitmotif

leit mo tif |ˈlītmōˌtēf ˈˌlaɪtmoʊˈˌtif |(also leitmotiv ) ▶noun a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from German Leitmotiv, from leit- ‘leading ’ (from leiten ‘to lead ’) + Motiv ‘motive. ’

 

Oxford Dictionary

leitmotif

leitmotif |ˈlʌɪtməʊˌtiːf |(also leitmotiv ) ▶noun a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from German Leitmotiv, from leit- ‘leading ’ (from leiten ‘to lead ’) + Motiv ‘motive ’.

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

leitmotif

leit mo tif -tiv /láɪtmoʊtìːf /〖＜ドイツ 〗名詞 複 ～s C 1 〘楽 〙ライトモチーフ, 示導動機 .2 (小説などで繰り返し示される )中心思想, 主題 .