impetus

im·pe·tus

noun

The definition of impetus is the force that makes something happen or that makes a body move.

If someone calls you stupid and this prompts you to go back to college, this comment was an example of theimpetus you needed to go back to college.

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"impetus." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus>.

APA Style

impetus. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus

impetus

noun

pl. -·tuses

the force with which a body moves against resistance, resulting from its mass and the velocity at which it is set in motion
anything that stimulates activity; driving force or motive; incentive; impulse

Origin of impetus

Classical Latin from impetere, to rush upon from in-, in + petere, to rush at: see feather

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MLA Style

"impetus." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus>.

APA Style

impetus. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus

impetus

noun

pl. im·pe·tus·es

An impelling force; an impulse.
The force or energy associated with a moving body.
a. Something that incites; a stimulus.
b. Increased activity in response to a stimulus: The approaching deadline gave impetus to the investigation.

Origin of impetus

Middle English impetous from Latin impetus from impetere to attack in- against ; see in- ². petere to go towards, seek ; see pet- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"impetus." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus>.

APA Style

impetus. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Impetus

Noun

(plural impetuses)

Something that impels, a stimulating factor.
The outbreak of World War II in 1939 gave a new impetus to receiver development.
A force, either internal or external, that impels; an impulse.
The force or energy associated with a moving body; a stimulus.
An activity in response to a stimulus.

Anagrams

imputes

Origin

From Latin impetus (“a rushing upon, an attack, assault, onset”), from impetere (“to rush upon, attack”), from in (“upon”) + petere (“to seek, fall upon”).

See also: ímpetus

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.