The Collaborative International Dictionary
Leading \Lead"ing\, a. Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly, adv.
Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to
be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
--Abbott.
Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.
Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the ascending major scale; the sensible note.
Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the person questioned in making his reply.
Leading strings, strings by which children are supported when beginning to walk.
To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or dependence, or under the guidance of others.
Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels of a locomotive engine.
Wiktionary
n. (context music English) leitmotif
Usage examples of "leading motive".
I was reduc'd to take this Step, not only by the Consent of the Senate (tho' this was the leading Motive) but that of others.
Other persons in no small number were to people the scene, and each with his or her axe to grind, his or her situation to treat, his or her coherency not to fail of, his or her relation to my leading motive, in a word, to establish and carry on.