impulsivus

Forms

impulsīvus (feminine impulsīva, neuter impulsīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin impulsus + -īvus,^[1] from the past participle stem of impellō (“to push, drive on”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The rhetorician Fortunatianus uses it as a term of his art: a motive is either impulsive, like anger or hatred, or reasoned.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

After its rhetorical use in Late Latin it returned in medieval philosophy and science, meaning impelling or driving forward.^[5][6] Albertus Magnus uses it of the jolting motion of an earthquake,^[5] and Thomas of Chobham defines the impulsive cause as one that arises suddenly and drives a man to a crime.^[6] English impulsive (early 15th century, first of a medicine that reduces swelling) comes from the Medieval Latin word.^[3]

Timeline

• 4th century AD – Fortunatianus uses it in rhetoric.^[2][4]
• 1180–1230 – Thomas of Chobham speaks of an impulsive cause that drives a man to a crime.^[6]
• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it of an earthquake's motion.^[5][4]
• early 15th century – English borrows it as impulsif.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (rhetoric) Arising from impulse or passion, as opposed to reasoned.^[2]
2. (Medieval Latin) Impelling, driving forward.^[5][6]
3. (Medieval Latin) Jolting, shaking with a blow.^[5]

Related words

• English impulsive

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press