impetuosity

English

Etymology

From English impetuous +‎ -ity, from Middle French impétuosité, from Old French.

Noun

impetuosity (usually uncountable, plural impetuosities)

1. The quality of making rash or arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive or forceful manner.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XIII, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV:

     She had however another motive, beside her obedience, to accompany the old gentleman in the chase; for by her presence she hoped in some measure to restrain his impetuosity, and to prevent him from so frequently exposing his neck to the utmost hazard.

2. The condition or quality of being impetuous, impatient; fury; violence.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “A Request Refused”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 297:

     Again his lordship began his long and deliberate perusal, while Henrietta watched the slow motion of his eyes with a degree of impetuosity she could scarcely repress.

3. Vehemence; furiousness of temper.

Synonyms

• impetuousness

Related terms

• impetuous
• impetuously
• impetuousness

Translations

The quality of making rash decisions

• Bulgarian: прибързаност (bg) f (pribǎrzanost), импулсивност f (impulsivnost)
• Catalan: impetuositat f
• Dutch: onstuimigheid (nl) f
• Finnish: kiihkeys (fi), kiivaus (fi)
• Hungarian: forrófejűség
• Italian: impetuosità (it) f
• Spanish: impetuosidad f

References

• “impetuosity”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.