(also leitmotiv)
NOUN
A recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
‘there are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother’
Origin
Late 19th century: from German Leitmotiv, from leit- ‘leading’ (from leiten ‘to lead’) + Motiv ‘motive’.
