Impulse
/ˈɪm.pʌls/noun
A sudden strong urge or desire to act.
Did you know?In ancient medical theories, impulses were often linked to the flow of vital spirits, suggesting our urges were influenced by unseen forces within us.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to push or drive”
Latin
Latin
impulsus
“a push, a driving force”
Late Latin
Late Latin
impulsio
“the act of pushing or driving”
Middle French
Middle French
impulsion
“a driving force or stimulus”
Early Modern English
English
impulse
“a sudden urge or push to act”