Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition)dictionaries

Predominant

This term, in its natural and ordinary signification, is under-stood to be something greater or superior in power aud influence to others, with which it is connected or compared. So understood, a “predominant motive,” when several motives may have operated, is one of greater force and effect, in producing the given re-sult, than any other motive. Matthews v. Bliss, 22 Pick. (Mass.) 53

Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)