n.
Pronunciation: ' im-p ə -t ə s
Function: 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