impulse
/ˈɪmpʌls/ noun B2- A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels. · c. 1715-1716, Samuel Clarke, letter to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse.
- A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action. · The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day.· When I saw the new book, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.
- The integral of force over time. · The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the projectile.
Plural impulses
From the library
“Madame,” replied Villefort, with a mournful smile, “I have already had the honor to observe that my father has—at least, I hope so—abjured his past errors, and that he is, at the present moment, a firm and zealous friend to religion and order—a better royalist, possibly, than his son; for he has to atone for past dereliction, while I have no other impulse than warm, decided preference and conviction.” Having made this well-turned speech, Villefort looked carefully around to mark the effect of his oratory, much as he would have done had he been addressing the bench in open court.
Villefort’s first impression was favorable; but he had been so often warned to mistrust first impulses, that he applied the maxim to the impression, forgetting the difference between the two words.
On opening the door, Villefort found himself facing him, and the young magistrate’s first impulse was to pause.
The minister of police, giving way to an impulse of despair, was about to throw himself at the feet of Louis XVIII., who retreated a step and frowned.
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