incentive

Etymology

From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”). The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).

noun

1. Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
   I have no incentive to do housework right now.
   It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […]. 2013-06-07, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36
2. A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder.
   Management offered the sales team a $500 incentive for each car sold.

adj

1. Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.
2. Serving to kindle or set on fire.