incentive

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Something that encourages you to do something, often a reward or payment.

   The company offered a cash incentive to staff who hit their sales targets.

2. 2
   noun

   A reason or motivation to act.

   Right now I have no incentive to clean the house.

From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”). The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).

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