move

Alternative forms

• meve (12th to 16th centuries)
• mieve (obsolete)
• moove

Etymology

From Middle English moven, moeven, meven, from Anglo-Norman mover, moveir and Old French mouver, moveir (“to move”) (compare modern French mouvoir from Old French movoir), from Latin movēre, present active infinitive of moveō (“move; change, exchange, go in or out, quit”), from Proto-Indo-European *mew- (“to move, drive”). Cognate with Lithuanian mauti (“to push on, rush”), Sanskrit मीवति (mīvati, “pushes, presses, moves”), Middle Dutch mouwe (“sleeve”). More at muff. Displaced native Old English styrian.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /muːv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːv

Verb

move (third-person singular simple present moves, present participle moving, simple past and past participle moved)

1. (intransitive) To change place or posture; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another.

   A ship moves rapidly.

   Synonym: stir

   I was sitting on the sofa for a long time, I was too lazy to move.

   • 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95

     Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever, unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion.

2. (intransitive) To act; to take action; to begin to act

   to move in a matter

   Come on guys, let's move: there's work to do!

   Synonyms: get moving, stir

3. (intransitive) To change residence, for example from one house, town, or state, to another; to go and live at another place. See also move out and move in.

   I decided to move to the country for a more peaceful life.

   They moved closer to work to cut down commuting time.

4. (intransitive, chess, and other games) To change the place of a piece in accordance with the rules of the game.

   The rook moved from a8 to a6.

   My opponent's counter was moving much quicker round the board than mine.

5. (transitive, ergative) To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another

   The waves moved the boat up and down.

   The horse moves a carriage.

   Synonyms: stir, impel

6. (transitive, chess) To transfer (a piece or man) from one space or position to another, according to the rules of the game

   She moved the queen closer to the centre of the board.

7. (transitive) To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence.

   This song moves me to dance.

   • Knolles

     Minds desirous of revenge were not moved with gold.

   • Dryden

     No female arts his mind could move.

8. (transitive) To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion, to excite (for example, an emotion).

   That book really moved me.

   • Bible, Matthew ix. 36

     When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them.

9. (transitive, intransitive) To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit
   • 1905, Livy, translated by Canon Roberts, From the Founding of the City Book 38
   • Two days were thus wasted in the quarrel between the consuls. It was clear that while Faminius was present no decision could be arrived at. Owing to Flaminius' absence through illness, Aemilius seized the opportunity to move a resolution which the senate adopted. Its purport was that the Ambracians should have all their property restored to them; they should be free to live under their own laws; they should impose such harbour dues and other imposts by land and sea as they desired, provided that the Romans and their Italian allies were exempt.

   I move to repeal the rule regarding obligatory school uniform.

   • Shakespeare

     Let me but move one question to your daughter.

   • Hayward

     They are to be blamed alike who move and who decline war upon particular respects.

10. (transitive, obsolete) To mention; to raise (a question); to suggest (a course of action); to lodge (a complaint).
11. (transitive, obsolete) To incite, urge (someone to do something); to solicit (someone for or of an issue); to make a proposal to.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:

      "Sir," seyde Sir Boys, "ye nede nat to meve me of such maters, for well ye wote I woll do what I may to please you."

12. (transitive, obsolete) To apply to, as for aid.

    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

13. (law, transitive, intransitive) To request an action from the court.

    An attorney moved the court to issue a restraining order.

    The district attorney moved for a non-suit.

Noun

move (plural moves)

1. The act of moving; a movement.

   A slight move of the tiller, and the boat will go off course.

2. An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.

   He made another move towards becoming a naturalized citizen.

3. A formalized or practiced action used in athletics, dance, physical exercise, self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, etc.

   She always gets spontaneous applause for that one move.

   He can win a match with that one move.

4. The event of changing one's residence.

   The move into my fiancé's house took two long days.

   They were pleased about their move to the country.

5. A change in strategy.

   I am worried about our boss's move.

   It was a smart move to bring on a tall striker to play against the smaller defenders.

6. A transfer, a change from one employer to another.
   • 2013, Phil McNulty, "", BBC Sport, 1 September 2013:

     Robin van Persie squandered United's best chance late on but otherwise it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for Liverpool's new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who has yet to concede a Premier League goal since his £9m summer move from Sunderland.

7. (board games) The act of moving a token on a gameboard from one position to another according to the rules of the game.

   The best move of the game was when he sacrificed his rook in order to gain better possession.

   It's your move! Roll the dice!

   If you roll a six, you can make two moves.

References

• move in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Etymology

A contraction of motivaatiovemppa.

Noun

move

1. (military slang) A conscript who acquires or has acquired exemptions from physical education for falsified reasons of health, i.e. by feigning sick.

Verb

move

1. third-person singular present indicative of mover
2. second-person singular imperative of mover

Etymology

From French mauvais (“bad”)

Adjective

move

1. bad

Verb

move

1. present of mover
2. imperative of mover

Verb

movē

1. second-person singular present active imperative of moveō

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔ.vi/
• Rhymes: -ɔvi

Verb

move

1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of mover
2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of mover