I.a pushing or striking against.
I. Lit., an outward pressure or shock, an impulse (class.; most freq. in abl. sing.): “impulsu scutorum,” Cic. Caecin. 15, 43: “orbium,” id. Rep. 6, 18: “quae (natura) a primo impulsu moveatur,” id. ib. 6, 25 fin.: “is ardor non alieno impulsu, sed sua sponte movetur,” id. N. D. 2, 12, 32: ventus, qui inferiora repentinis impulsibus quatit, App. de Mundo, p. 62.—
II. Trop., incitement, instigation, influence (class.): “ubi duxere impulsu vostro, vostro impulsu easdem exigunt,” Ter. Hec. 2, 1, 45; cf. ib. 4, 4, 65: “ipsos non negare, ad haec bona Chrysogonum accessisse impulsu suo,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 37, 107; Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 66, § 161: “impulsu patrum,” id. Rep. 2, 10: “ne civitas eorum impulsu deficeret,” Caes. B. G. 5, 25, 4: “impulsu patrum,” Cic. Rep. 6, 26: “qui simili impulsu aliquid commiserint,” id. Inv. 2, 5, 19: “oratio pondere modo et impulsu proeliatur,” Quint. 9, 1, 20: “temeritatis subiti et vehementes impulsus,” Val. Max. 9, 8.
