Where does “impetus” come from?

Impetus comes from Latin impetus, derived from Latin impeto, which combines Latin in with Latin peto, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots ne and h₁én.

impetus (English): Something that impels; a stimulating factor; A...

Definitions

  1. Something that impels; a stimulating factor; A...

Ancestry of “impetus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinimpetusan attack, assault; a rapid motion; a making for
2Latinimpetōto rush upon, assail, attack
3Latinīn-un-, non-, not
4Latinînin, at, on, upon, from (space)
5Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
6Proto-Italicenin
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →