impulsive

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French impulsif, from Latin impulsivus.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/
Audio (UK) (file)

Adjective

impulsive (comparative more impulsive, superlative most impulsive)

Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.
- 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Alma: Or, The Progress of the Mind”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], OCLC 5634253:
  Poor men! poor papers! We and they / Do some impulsive force obey.
Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.
- 1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, OCLC 12526426, (please specify either |part=I or II):
  my heart, impulsive and wayward
(mechanics) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous – said of forces.

Related terms

impulse
impulsion
impulsively
impulsiveness
impulsor
impulsory

Translations

having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent

Bulgarian: възбуждащ (bg) (vǎzbuždašt), задвижващ (bg) (zadvižvašt)
Catalan: impulsiu (ca)
Czech: impulsivní
Dutch: impulsief (nl)
Finnish: impulsiivinen (fi)
French: impulsif (fr)
Italian: impulsivo (it)
Portuguese: impulsivo (pt), impelente, impulsor
Romanian: impulsiv (ro)
Russian: импульси́вный (ru) (impulʹsívnyj)
Scottish Gaelic: spreigearra
Spanish: impulsivo (es)
Turkish: fevri (tr)

actuated by impulse or by transient feelings

Bulgarian: импулсен (bg) (impulsen)
Catalan: impulsiu (ca)
Chinese:
Mandarin: 衝動／冲动 (zh) (chōngdòng)
Czech: impulsivní
Danish: impulsiv
Dutch: impulsief (nl), impulsief (nl)
Esperanto: facilanima
Finnish: impulsiivinen (fi)
French: impulsif (fr)
German: impulsiv (de)
Greek:
Ancient: ὁρμητικός (hormētikós)
Icelandic: hvatvís
Ido: impulsiva (io)
Irish: tobann
Italian: impulsivo (it)
Korean: 충동적인 (chungdongjeogin)
Maori: ohia, manawarere
Norwegian:
Bokmål: impulsiv
Nynorsk: impulsiv
Portuguese: impulsivo (pt)
Romanian: impulsiv (ro)
Russian: импульси́вный (ru) (impulʹsívnyj)
Scottish Gaelic: spreigearra
Spanish: impulsivo (es)
Turkish: fevri (tr)

(mechanics) acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous

Bulgarian: импулсен (bg) (impulsen)
Czech: impulsivní
Dutch: impulsief (nl)
Finnish: äkillinen (fi)
French: impulsif (fr)
German: impulsiv (de)
Italian: impulsivo (it)
Spanish: impulsivo (es)

highly reactive; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration

Bulgarian: импулсивен (bg) (impulsiven)
Catalan: impulsiu (ca)
Czech: impulzivní
Danish: impulsiv
Dutch: impulsief (nl)
Esperanto: impulsiĝema
Finnish: äkkipikainen (fi), impulsiivinen (fi)
French: impulsif (fr)
German: impulsiv (de)
Ido: impulsebla (io)
Maori: takahorohoro
Portuguese: impulsivo (pt)
Scottish Gaelic: spreigearra
Spanish: impulsivo (es)

References

impulsive in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
impulsive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Noun

impulsive (plural impulsives)

That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
- 1613, Henry Wotton, letter to Edmund Bacon
  Notwithstanding all which Motives and impulsives , Sir Thomas Overbury refused to be sent abroad , with such terms
One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.

French

Adjective

impulsive

feminine singular of impulsif

German

Pronunciation

Audio (file)

Adjective

impulsive

inflection of impulsiv:
1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
2. strong nominative/accusative plural
3. weak nominative all-gender singular
4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Adjective

impulsive f pl

feminine plural of impulsivo

Latin

Adjective

impulsīve

vocative masculine singular of impulsīvus

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

impulsive

definite singular/plural of impulsiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

impulsive

definite singular/plural of impulsiv