Step 1: State what we are looking for.
We need to identify the linguistic and historical origin of the English word "motivation," specifically the parent language and the root word it is derived from.
Step 2: Eliminate the incorrect options immediately.
The options suggest the word comes from Greek, French, or German. However, a large portion of English academic and management vocabulary was adopted from Latin, especially during the Renaissance and the formation of formal scholarship in Europe.
Step 3: Identify the correct parent language.
The word "motivation" traces back to Latin, one of the oldest classical languages and the root of many modern European languages as well as English academic terminology.
Step 4: Identify the root Latin word.
The specific Latin root is "movere," which directly translates to "to move" in English. The word carries the sense of being set into motion or propelled.
Step 5: Connect etymology to meaning.
Just as "movere" means to set something into physical motion, motivation in management refers to the internal drive or force that sets a person into psychological and behavioral motion toward their goal. The connection between origin and meaning is elegant and direct.
Step 6: Confirm the correct answer.
Among all the options, only option (C) correctly identifies both the language (Latin) and the root word (movere) with the correct translation (to move).
\[ \boxed{ \text{Latin word 'movere' meaning 'to move'} } \]