Incentive
/ɪnˈsɛn.tɪv/noun
Something that motivates or encourages a person to act.
Did you know?Incentive comes from Latin *incentivus*, originally a musical term for the note that “gives the pitch,” so the idea of motivation was once tied to sound, rhythm, and control.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
incentivus
“that gives the keynote; inciting, stimulating”
Late Latin
Latin
incentivum
“a prompting or inciting thing”
14th Century
Middle English
incentif / incentyve
“stimulating, inciting”
17th Century
English
incentive
“something that encourages action”
Modern English
English
incentive
“a reward or stimulus that motivates behavior”