Meanings
plural impetuosities
- uncountableusuallyThe quality of making rash or arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive or forceful manner.
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.
1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XIII, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV - uncountableusuallyThe condition or quality of being impetuous, impatient; fury; violence.
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.
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
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Frenchimpétuosité
- Englishimpetuosity
From English impetuous + -ity, from Middle French impétuosité, from Old French.
More words from Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian прибързаност, импулсивност
- прибързаност (pribărzanost)The quality of making rash decisions
- импулсивност (impulsivnost)The quality of making rash decisions
Catalan impetuositat
- impetuositatThe quality of making rash decisions
Dutch onstuimigheid
- onstuimigheidThe quality of making rash decisions
Finnish kiihkeys, kiivaus
- kiihkeysThe quality of making rash decisions
- kiivausThe quality of making rash decisions
Greek ορμητικότητα
- ορμητικότητα (ormitikótita)The quality of making rash decisions
Hungarian forrófejűség
- forrófejűségThe quality of making rash decisions
Italian impetuosità
- impetuositàThe quality of making rash decisions
Spanish impetuosidad
- impetuosidadThe quality of making rash decisions
Cite this entry
impetuosity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impetuosity
“impetuosity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impetuosity. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “impetuosity,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/impetuosity.
Source: impetuosity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.