I.a pushing against.
I. Lit., external pressure, influence: “omnis coagmentatio corporis vel calore vel frigore vel aliqua impulsione vehementi labefactatur et frangitur,” Cic. Univ. 5, 14.—
II. Trop., incitement, instigation, impulse.
A. In gen.: “impulsio est, quae sine cogitatione per quandam affectionem animi facere aliquid hortatur, ut amor, iracundia, aegritudo,” Cic. Inv. 2, 5, 17; cf. id. ib. § 19; 2, 6, 20.—
B. In partic.: ad hilaritatem impulsio, pleasantry, an incitement to merriment, = Gr. χαριεντισμός, a figure of speech, Cic. de Or. 3, 53, 205; Quint. 9, 1, 31; 9, 2, 3.
