leitmotif also leitmotiv (LYT-mo-teef) noun

   1. A melodic passage or phrase, especially in Wagnerian opera, associated
      with a specific character, situation, or element.

   2. A dominant and recurring theme, as in a novel.

[German Leitmotiv : leiten, to lead (from Middle High German, from Old High
German leitan.) + Motiv, motif, from French motif.]

   "The whole spirit of Hallowe'en is, of course, one of `spooky' gayety and
   light-hearted ghastliness. Witches and ghosts run riot; corpses dance and
   black cats howl. `More work for the undertaker' should be the leitmotif
   of the evening's fun."
   Donald Ogden Stewart, Perfect Behavior, George H. Doran Company, 1922.

This week's theme: words from the German language.

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It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are
accountable. -Moliere, actor and playwright (1622-1673)

Q: Some time ago you featured a quote about foo in AWAD. Could you resend it?
A: You may search the archives at http://wordsmith.org/awad/search.html
   or browse them at http://wordsmith.org/awad/archives.html All the
   words and quotes since the beginning of AWAD are available there.

Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/leitmotif.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/leitmotif.ram