im·pe·tus 
(ĭmpĭ-təs)
(ĭmpĭ-təs)n. pl. im·pe·tus·es
1. An impelling force; an impulse.
2. The force or energy associated with a moving body.
3.
a. Something that incites; a stimulus.
b. Increased activity in response to a stimulus: The approaching deadline gave impetus to the investigation.
[Middle English impetous, from Latin impetus, from impetere, to attack : in-, against; see IN-2 + petere, to go towards, seek; see pet- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
- heathenism
- heathenry
- heather
- heathered
- heathery
- heath family
- heath hen
- heat index
- heat island
- heat lightning
- heat of combustion
- heat of fusion
- heat of transformation
- heat of vaporization
- heatproof
- heat prostration
- heat pump
- heat rash
- heat shield
- heat shock protein
- heat sink
- heat stroke
- heatstroke
- heat-treat
- heat treater