leitmotif

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English

WOTD – 28 July 2007
English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Alternative forms

Etymology

From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈlaɪt.moʊˌtif/, (nonstandard) /ˈleɪt.moʊˌtif/, (nonstandard) /ˈlaɪt.moʊˌtɪv/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

leitmotif (plural leitmotifs)

  1. (music) A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
    • 2014, Michael Slowik, After the Silents, Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 14:
      In Wagner's operas, especially his cycle of four operas known collectively as the Ring cycle, the leitmotif did not simply label or point to one particular character or object but rather conjured up a realm of ideas.
  2. (by extension) A recurring theme.
    Synonym: common thread
    • 1953 January, Thomas E. Mann, “The Making of "The Magic Mountain"”, in The Atlantic‎:
      People have pointed out the influence of Wagner’s music on my work. Certainly I do not disclaim this influence. In particular, I followed Wagner in the use of the leitmotif, which I carried over into the work of language.
    • 1975 October 27, Aaron Latham, “John Connally on the Comeback Road”, in New York, volume 8, number 43, page 48:
      If one looks for a pattern in the political life of John Connally, one finds a leitmotif of scandals which threatened but never destroyed his career.
    • 2009, David Gallagher, Metamorphosis, Rodopi, →ISBN, page 183:
      Mann's adaptation of Wagner's technique and its development throughout his writing is analysed, including how Mann uses the leitmotif in a naturalistic, characterising and mechanical sense in Buddenbrooks, attaching it to persons and situations as etiquettes.
    • 2021 January 19, Roger Cohen, “Trump Bequeaths Biden an Upended World”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:
      Such language about an American president from a European ally would have been unthinkable before Mr. Trump made outrage the leitmotif of his presidency, along with an assault on truth.

Translations

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from German Leitmotiv.

Pronunciation

Noun

leitmotif m (plural leitmotifs or (less common) leitmotif)

  1. Nonstandard spelling of leitmotiv.
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