Expert: Maria - 2/19/2010

Question
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!
I facilitate a faith community in the US and am looking for a name that would capture the idea of inspiring movement, or a movement - of the soul, within our community, in serving our city and people in need.
I found the term "motus" in some of my research and would like affirmation that it's an appropriate use if I explain it to mean "movement".  

If it's NOT an appropriate use, do you have any alternate suggestions?

Thank you so much!
Ken

Answer
Hello,

Since you are looking for “a name that would capture the idea of inspiring movement, or a movement - of the soul, within our community, in serving our city and people in need”, I think you could use either MOTUS or MOTIO which both can refer to a movement just as a motion of the mind or heart that brings us to help others.

Note that the masculine noun MOTUS (nominative singular/plural)  belongs to the 4th.declension, while  the feminine noun MOTIO (nominative singular) belongs to the 3rd.declension.

Hope this can be helpful to you. Feel free however to ask me again.

Best wishes,
Maria