əˈpəls, aˈp-, ˈaˌp- also -lts noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin appulsus driving forward, approach, from appulsus, past participle of appellere to drive toward, strike against, from ad- + pellere to drive, beat, push — more at felt
1. : a driving or running toward (as a place) : act of striking against (as a point)
the days have passed when national differences could be settled by the appulse of small professional armies — R.S.Ellery
2. : the apparent very near approach of one celestial body to another : a coming into conjunction — see lunar appulse