impetuous
English
Etymology
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From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetuōsus (“violent”), from Latin impetus (“attack, violence”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
impetuous (comparative more impetuous, superlative most impetuous)
- Making arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner.
- 1880, John Weeks Moore, Complete Encyclopaedia of Music, "Beethoven, Louis Van":
- But it was natural, that the impetuous, restless young artist should incline more to excess of strength than of delicacy in his playing.
- 1880, John Weeks Moore, Complete Encyclopaedia of Music, "Beethoven, Louis Van":
- Characterized by sudden violence or vehemence.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 311:
- For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.
- 1794, Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, vol. II, chapter I:
- He stands, and views in the faint rays
Far, far below, the torrent's rising surge,
And listens to the wild impetuous roar
- He stands, and views in the faint rays
- 1813, Jane Austen, chapter 4, in Pride and Prejudice, volume III:
- "Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, with-out losing a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door, it was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous manner made him start […]
- 1917 rev. 1925, Ezra Pound, "Canto I"
- Unsheathed the narrow sword,
- I sat to keep off the impetuous impotent dead ...
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
describing one who makes arbitrary decisions
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characterized by sudden and violent force
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