Stimulus
/ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/noun
Something that incites or rouses to action.
Did you know?In ancient Roman culture, a 'stimulus' was not just an incitement; it was also a tool used to drive animals, linking it to control and power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stī-
“to prick, to incite”
Latin
Latin
stimulus
“a goad, spur, or something that provokes action”
Old French
Old French
stimulus
“a spur, incitement”
Middle English
Middle English
stimulus
“something that provokes or incites”
Modern English
English
stimulus
“an agent that provokes a response or activity”