Adjacent Words

Impetus definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

IM'PETUS, n. [L. supra.] Force of motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled.
1. The force with which one body in motion strikes another.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a force that moves something along [syn: drift, impetus, impulsion]
2: the act of applying force suddenly; "the impulse knocked him over" [syn: impulse, impulsion, impetus]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Latin, assault, impetus, from impetere to attack, from in- + petere to go to, seek — more at feather Date: 1641 1. a. (1) a driving force ; impulse (2) incentive, stimulus b. stimulation or encouragement resulting in increased activity 2. the property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its mass and its motion — used of bodies moving suddenly or violently to indicate the origin and intensity of the motion

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the force or energy with which a body moves. 2 a driving force or impulse. Etymology: L, = assault, force, f. impetere assail (as IN-(2), petere seek)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Impetus Im"pe*tus, n. [L., fr. impetere to rush upon, attack; pref. im- in + petere to fall upon, seek. See Petition.] 1. A property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its weight and its motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled; momentum. Note: Momentum is the technical term, impetus its popular equivalent, yet differing from it as applied commonly to bodies moving or moved suddenly or violently, and indicating the origin and intensity of the motion, rather than its quantity or effectiveness. 2. Fig.: Impulse; incentive; vigor; force. --Buckle. 3. (Gun.) The aititude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Something that gives a process impetus or an impetus makes it happen or progress more quickly. This decision will give renewed impetus to the economic regeneration of east London... = stimulus N-UNCOUNT: also a N, oft N for n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Momentum, force, propulsive force.

Moby Thesaurus

acceleration, activity, animation, ardor, brio, briskness, catalyst, clout, compulsion, drive, driving force, elan, encouragement, energy, enthusiasm, getaway, glow, goad, gusto, impellent, impelling force, impetuosity, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, inspiration, irresistible force, joie de vivre, life, liveliness, lustiness, mettle, moment, momentum, motivation, motive power, perkiness, pertness, pickup, power, propulsion, push, quickening, robustness, speedup, spirit, spiritedness, spur, step-up, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, thrust, vivacity, warmth, zest, zestfulness