The crossword setter's motif (5)

I believe the answer is:

theme

'motif' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'the crossword setter's' is the wordplay.
'crossword setter' becomes 'me' (referring to the person writing the clues).
'the'+'me'='THEME'

(Other definitions for theme that I've seen before include "Topic for discussion" , "Subject (of talk, text, etc)" , "Recurring melody" , "Topic; melody" , "Thread, melody" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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