impulse



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Impulse \Im*pulse"\, v. t. [See Impel.]
   To impel; to incite. [Obs.] --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Impulse \Im"pulse\, n. [L. impulsus, fr. impellere. See
   Impel.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force;
      impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to
      produced motion suddenly, or immediately.
      [1913 Webster]

            All spontaneous animal motion is performed by
            mechanical impulse.                   --S. Clarke.
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   2. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a
      sudden or momentary force.
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   3. (Mech.) The action of a force during a very small interval
      of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a
      sudden blow upon a hard elastic body.
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   4. A mental force which simply and directly urges to action;
      hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient
      influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement;
      as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent
      impulse to the will; to buy something on impulse.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

            These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
                                                  --Dryden.

   Syn: Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling;
        incitement; instigation.
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