An instrument for making or inflicting a prick, or for piercing something; †a goad (obsolete). Also figurative and in figurative context. In…

A prick, goad, or spur. Also figurative. Cf. prick, n. 9. Obsolete.

figurative. Something which inflames; an incitement, an incentive.

figurative. An incentive, stimulus, motive.

figurative. Applied to that which blows up or fans the fire of passion, discord, etc.

figurative. A thing which serves as a stimulus, prompt, or incitement; a spur, an incentive. Obsolete.

An impression or apprehension that prompts a person to action; a counsel; a prompting or suggestion; spec. a divine or angelic prompting. Obsolete.

The action of prompt, v. (in various senses); an instance of this; esp. an incitement or impulse to action, an instigation.

An incitement, an incentive. Obsolete.

An incitement, provocation.

Something that arouses feeling, or incites to action; an exciting cause or motive; an incitement, provocation, ‘spur’.

Something that foments or encourages something bad. Obsolete.

Motion, rush, impetus. Hence, Impetuosity, ardour; a violent onset.

That in which this action is embodied; an incentive, stimulus, spur.

The action of indicating or directing, esp. with the finger or with the point of something, or of aiming something in a particular direction; an…

Impetus, impulse, driving power (of something non-physical, as passion, will, etc.); inclination; drift, tendency. of one's own swinge: of one's…

A stimulus, incentive, or incitement. Also const. of (the particular influence, etc.) and to (a person or persons).

Allusive and figurative uses. Something that sharpens the wits, desires, etc., or incites to action.

figurative and in figurative contexts. Something which serves as a stimulus or prompt; an incitement, a spur. Cf. prick, n. 9b.

A prompting, an impulse; an inclination. Obsolete.

An incitement to a particular course of action. Also with for. Obsolete.

More widely: Any ground or reason which leads or inclines one to a belief or course of action; a moving cause; an incentive. Obsolete.

A thing serving to instigate, etc. Obsolete.

That which incites or rouses to action; an inciting cause or motive; stimulus, incentive, ‘spur’.

An incitement; a kindling of devotion. Obsolete.

Something which urges or impels; impelling motive; cause. Obsolete.

Something that excites; a means of exciting. Something that tends to excite (a feeling); a motive or incentive to action; an exhortation…

the spirit or principle which animates or impels something; frequently figurative, of a person (cf. spirit, n. 20).

figurative. Something that gives energy or vitality to a place, institution, enterprise, etc.; a driving force. Also: an essential part or central…

One who or that which inflames or kindles; an exciter, arouser, instigator. (Chiefly in bad sense.)

A person who or thing which rouses, awakens, or stirs up someone or something; an arouser; an inciter. Cf. rabble-rouser, n.

gen. One who or something which stimulates.

In extended use: a thing which provokes or brings about an action, etc.

= incentive, n. 1.

An inciting or stimulating agent, medicine, etc.

That which incites or stimulates to action; a stimulus, incentive, incitement. Obsolete.

figurative. One who or that which sharpens, stimulates, or incites the intellect, desires, appetite, etc.

An impelling agent or cause. Obsolete.

A means of excitement, an influence that excites; a stimulus, encouragement, instigation. archaic.

figurative. A thing that inflames or excites passion, strife, etc.; an incentive to evil. Obsolete.

Something that disposes or inclines (see A. 2).

A stimulus; something that prompts or influences a particular state or situation. Often with to. Obsolete.

figurative. Stimulus, incentive. Obsolete. rare.

One who or something which excites or provokes something, as strife, passion, etc., or incites a person to something; an inciter, instigator; †a…

Something that excites or provokes an action, feeling, or state; an exciting cause; a provocative, an incentive; an irritant.

gen. Something that provokes or produces an action, reaction, condition, etc.; an incentive, stimulus.

In reference to immaterial things, as feelings, actions, etc.: Moving force, impulse, stimulus.

Designating a force or power which imparts motion to something; (without reference to physical motion) impelling, motivating, energizing…

Designating a force or power which imparts motion to something; (without reference to physical motion) impelling, motivating, energizing…

That which engages or induces to a course of action; an inducement, motive. Cf. engage, v. 8. Obsolete.

A person who legitimately sets something on fire; (also) a person who superintends firing in a technical procedure. Also figurative.

An agent that propels something; esp. an explosive for use in firearms, artillery, etc. Also figurative.

Something which foments or incites trouble, discord, etc. Obsolete.

Force or influence exerted upon the mind by some external stimulus; suggestion, incitement, instigation. †Formerly, esp., A strong suggestion…

A driving or constraining impulse or motive.

One who or that which impels.

Something that serves to rouse, excite, or animate; a stimulus.

figurative. In various uses: An impulse given to make a person or thing move or act more quickly; a ‘push’ or exertion of influence to get a person…

An incentive, incitement.

Something having a stimulating quality; a motive inciting to action; a stimulus, incentive. Now rare or Obsolete. (Common 1750–1800.)

Something which functions as a gift or reward for doing something; a means of encouraging or inducing a particular type of behaviour.

gen. An agency or influence that stimulates to action or (const. to) that quickens an activity or process.

A thing which impels or urges; an impelling force, agent, body, etc.

Something that rouses or incites to action; an incentive, a stimulus. Now rare except with some figurative notion of sense A. 2.

figurative. Impelling influence; an impulse.

One who or that which instigates; an instigator.

An agent or principle that propels or expels something. rare.

Driving or motivating force, impetus. Cf. motivity, n. 1b.

one who or that which evokes.

The power to cause or initiate motion. Driving, propelling, or motivating force; creative power, creativity, invention.

The communication of supernatural or spiritual knowledge; divine impulse; inspiration, esp. poetic inspiration. Also: an instance of this. Frequently…

= fillip, n. 3.

The action of urging or fact of being urged or prompted; an impelling motive, force, pressure, etc.

In extended use and figurative. A person or thing that incites some action or reaction; a provoking cause or agent.

(in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, and later in analytic psychology, esp. Alfred Adler's individual psychology) the driving force behind…

In figurative phrase a shot in the arm, a much needed stimulant or encouragement. colloquial (originally U.S.).

Something which acts as a stimulus to action or behaviour.

Without reference to physical movement. Something that causes a particular process, action, course of events, etc., to occur or develop; a…

A motivating factor or force working along with another or others to advance a process, action, course of events, etc. Frequently with of.