Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

impulsĭo (inp-), ōnis, f. [impello], a pushing against.

  1. I. Lit., external pressure, influence: omnis coagmentatio corporis vel calore vel frigore vel aliqua impulsione vehementi labefactatur et frangitur, Cic. Univ. 5, 14.
  2. II. Trop., incitement, instigation, impulse.
    1. A. In gen.: impulsio est, quae sine cogitatione per quandam affectionem animi facere aliquid hortatur, ut amor, iracundia, aegritudo, Cic. Inv. 2, 5, 17; cf. id. ib. § 19; 2, 6, 20.
    2. B. In partic.: ad hilaritatem impulsio, pleasantry, an incitement to merriment, = Gr. χαριεντισμός, a figure of speech, Cic. de Or. 3, 53, 205; Quint. 9, 1, 31; 9, 2, 3.