impulsion

plural impulsions

1. countableuncountableThe act of impelling or driving onward, or the state of being impelled; the sudden or momentary agency of a body in motion on another body; also, the impelling force, or impulse.

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   I wrought like a fiend, for I expected every moment to be swamped; and since I found I could not push the coracle directly off, I now shoved straight astern. At length I was clear of my dangerous neighbour, and just as I gave the last impulsion, my hands came across a light cord that was trailing overboard across the stern bulwarks.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

2. countableuncountableInfluence acting unexpectedly or temporarily on the mind; sudden motive or influence; impulse.

   Once they sit to talk, the Pilgrims lose the impulsion that has brought them so far, their confidence in their own crude strength.

   2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 369

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   Farther, Chrisostome upon this place saith, that Paule when he thus writeth, doth in no wise denie the nature of the flesh, but exalteth it to a more higher dignitie, namelie, that it should rather obaie the impulsion of the spirite, than lust.

   1581, Peter Martyr, edited by John Marbeck, A Booke of Notes and Common places, with their expostitions, collected and gathered out of the workes of divers singular Writers and brought Alphabetically into order, Thomas East, page 410