prime mover

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prime mover

The prime mover sets the universe in motion.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The original or primary force behind an action, event, or creation; a person or thing that initiates or is chiefly responsible for a major activity or change. This is the most common modern usage, referring to a key instigator.
    • (Philosophy/Theology) The uncaused cause of all existence; the first cause. This is a specialized, often capitalized, usage referring to a supreme being or initial force that sets everything else in motion without itself being caused.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun (Primary Instigator):
    • She was the prime mover behind the new community initiative.
    • The discovery of electricity was the prime mover of the industrial revolution.
  • Noun (Philosophical First Cause):
    • In his argument, he referred to God as the Prime Mover.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is often used in formal or analytical contexts to identify the most influential factor or person in a complex situation.
  • In philosophical discourse, "Prime Mover" (often capitalized) specifically references Aristotle's concept of an unmoved mover, a being that causes motion in the universe without being moved itself, later adopted into theological arguments.
Variants and Related Words
  • Primemover: A less common, closed-form spelling of the term.
  • Mover and shaker: An idiom for a person who has power and influence in a particular field, often similar to "prime mover" but implying ongoing active involvement rather than just the initial cause.
Synonyms
  • Instigator: A person who brings about or initiates something.
  • Originator: A person who creates or initiates something.
  • Catalyst: An agent that provokes or speeds up a significant change or action.
  • Architect: A person who designs and guides a plan or project.
Related Phrases
  • The first cause: A direct synonym for the philosophical/theological meaning.
  • The driving force: A phrase describing the main source of energy or motivation behind an action.
prime mover

The prime mover sets the universe in motion.

Noun
  1. an agent that is the cause of all things but does not itself have a cause
    • God is the first cause

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