impetus

[ im-pi-tuhs ]
/ ˈɪm pɪ təs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR impetus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural im·pe·tus·es.

a moving force; impulse; stimulus: The grant for building the opera house gave impetus to the city's cultural life.
(broadly) the momentum of a moving body, especially with reference to the cause of motion.

Origin of impetus

1650–60; < Latin: an attack, literally, a rushing into, perhaps by haplology from *impetitus (though the expected form would be *impetītus; see appetite), equivalent to impetī-, variant stem of impetere to attack ( im- im-1 + petere to make for, assault) + -tus suffix of v. action

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH impetus

impetus impotence sterility

Words nearby impetus

impetigo neonatorum, impetigo vulgaris, impetrate, impetuosity, impetuous, impetus, impf., imphal, impi, impiety, impinge

Words related to impetus

motivation, incentive, catalyst, impulse, momentum, stimulant, urge, incitement, power, spur, energy, goad, pressure, push, incitation, impulsion

Example sentences from the Web for impetus

British Dictionary definitions for impetus

impetus
/ (ˈɪmpɪtəs) /

noun plural -tuses

an impelling movement or force; incentive or impulse; stimulus
physics the force that sets a body in motion or that tends to resist changes in a body's motion

Word Origin for impetus

C17: from Latin: attack, from impetere to assail, from im- (in) + petere to make for, seek out