What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Motif vs Gist - What's the difference?

motif | gist |

As nouns the difference between motif and gist

is that motif is a recurring or dominant element; a theme while gist is the most essential part; the main idea or substance (of a longer or more complicated matter); the crux of a matter.

As a verb gist is

to summarize, to extract and present the most important parts of.

motif

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A recurring or dominant element; a theme.
  • See how the artist repeats the scroll motif throughout the work?
  • (music) A short melodic passage that is repeated in several parts of a work
  • A decorative figure that is repeated in a design
  • (crystallography) The physical object or objects repeated at each point of a lattice. Usually atoms or molecules.
  • A basic element of a move in terms of why the piece moves and how it supports the fulfilment of a stipulation.
  • (biochemistry) In a nucleotide or amino-acid sequence, pattern that is widespread and has, or is conjectured to have, a biological significance.
  • gist

    English

    Noun

  • The most essential part; the main idea or substance (of a longer or more complicated matter); the crux of a matter
  • * 1948 , , Remembrance Rock , page 103,
  • "Should they live and build their church in the American wilderness, their worst dangers would rise in and among themselves rather than outside. That was the gist of the lesson from their pastor and "wellwiller" John Robinson."
  • *
  • * 1996 , Nicky Silver, Etiquette and Vitriol , Theatre Communications Group 1996, p. 10:
  • I was really just vomiting images like spoiled sushi (that may be an ill-considered metaphor, but you get my gist ).
  • * 2003 , David McDuff, translating Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment , Penguin 2003 p. 183:
  • I don't remember his exact words, but the gist of it was that he wanted it all for nothing, as quickly as possible, without any effort.
  • (legal, dated) The essential ground for action in a suit, without which there is no cause of action.
  • (obsolete) Resting place (especially of animals), lodging.
  • * 1601 , (Philemon Holland)'s translation of (w, Pliny's Natural History) , 1st ed., book X, chapter XXIII “Of Swallowes, Ousles, or Merles, Thrushes, Stares or Sterlings, Turtles, and Stockdoves.”, p. 282:
  • These Quailes have their set gists', to wit, ordinarie resting and baiting places. [These quails have their set ' gists , to wit, ordinary resting and baiting places.]

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To summarize, to extract and present the most important parts of.
  • * 1873 , Journal of Proceedings and Addresses of the National Educational Association, session of the year 1872, at Boston, Massachusetts , page 201:
  • There are two general ways of getting information, and these two general ways may be summed up in this: take one branch of study and its principles are all gisted', they have been '''gisted''' by the accumulated thought of years gone by. These ' gisted thoughts are axioms, or received principles,
    (extract the most important) (trans-mid) (trans-bottom)

    Anagrams

    * *

    References

    * * “ gist” in (w, Bouvier's Law Dictionary), Revised 6th Ed , 1856. * ----