impetus Latin · revision 17857

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *peth₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɪm.pɛ.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈim.pe.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''impetus''' ''m'' (genitive impetūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+ The dative is ''impetū''; there is no genitive plural, and Lucretius has the ablative plural ''impetibus''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[impetō]] “to attack”, perhaps from ⟨*impetītus⟩ shortened by haplology.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb is [[m|la|in-]] with [[petō]] “to make for, aim at”, which de Vaan derives from [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|t=to fly]], the sense having shifted from “fly up towards” to “make for”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Etymonline) Compare [[grc|πέτομαι|tr=pétomai|t=to fly]] and [[sa|पतति|tr=pátati|t=flies, falls]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Ennius on:^(Köbler 2010) ''lābitur ūncta carīna, volat super impetus undās'', “the oiled keel glides, its rush flies over the waves”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Impetus'' is violent onward movement, momentum, rush, and then a hostile onset, an attack, a charge, also of fortune or disease.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) It is vigorous effort, and a sudden impulse of the mind (''impetus animī''), an urge to do something, or a fit of passion.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) It also means a wide sweep of space (''in magnō impetū maris'' “in the open sweep of the sea”).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it was jurisdiction over breaches of the peace of a home.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|impetus]] “driving force” is recorded in this spelling from the 1640s, after an earlier ''impetous'' (early 15th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – First found in Ennius, of a ship's rush and of an attack.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar: ''in magnō impetū maris atque apertō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''impetū quōdam animī potius quam cōgitātiōne'', “from an impulse rather than reflection”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1640s – English [[m|en|impetus]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Violent onward movement, [[m|en|momentum]], rush.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An [[m|en|attack]], [[m|en|assault]], charge.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A blow, violence (of fortune, disease).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Vigorous effort.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # An [[m|en|impulse]], urge;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) a fit (of passion).^(OLD 2012)

+ # A wide sweep (of space).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Jurisdiction over breaches of domestic peace.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[impetuōsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[impetō]]

+ * [[petō]]

+ * [[en|impetus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}