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   Im·pe·tus

   /ˈimpədəs/

   

   noun

   • 1. the force or energy with which a body moves: "hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus" Similar momentumpropulsionimpulsionimpelling forcemotive forcedriving forcedrivethrustcontinuing motionenergyforcepowerpushsteamstrength
   • ▪ the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly: "the crisis of the 1860s provided the original impetus for the settlements" Similar motivationstimulusincitementincentiveinducementinspirationencouragementboosturgingpressinggoadingspurringproddinginformal:a shot in the arm

   Word Origin mid 17th century: from Latin, ‘assault, force’, from impetere ‘assail’, from in- ‘towards’ + petere ‘seek’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • I

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   • M

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   • P

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   • E

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   • U

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   • S

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