| Impetus 1. (n.) An impulse; an incentive; an impelling force; as, an impetus for change or correction; a property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its weight and its motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled; momentum. 2. (n.) Fig.: Impulse; incentive; vigor; force. 3. (n.) The altitude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece. Thesaurus Entries acceleration, activity, animation, ardor, brio, briskness, catalyst, clout, compulsion, drive, driving force, elan, encouragement, energy, enthusiasm, getaway, glow, goad, gusto, impellent, impelling force, impetuosity, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, inspiration, irresistible force, joie de vivre, life, liveliness, lustiness, mettle, moment, momentum, motivation, motive power, perkiness, pertness, pickup, power, propulsion, push, quickening, robustness, speedup, spirit, spiritedness, spur, step-up, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, thrust, vivacity, warmth, zest, zestfulness |