/im pel"/ , v.t., impelled, impelling .
1. to drive or urge forward; press on; incite or constrain to action.
2. to drive or cause to move onward; propel; impart motion to.
[ 1375-1425; late ME impellen impellere to strike against, set in motion (transit.), equiv. to im- IM- 1 + pellere to strike, move (something); akin to PULSE 1 ]
Syn. 1. actuate. See compel .
Ant. 1. restrain.