释义 |
impulsive, a. (n.)|ɪmˈpʌlsɪv| [ad. med.L. impulsīv-us or a. F. impulsif, -ive (14th c.), f. L. impuls-, ppl. stem of impellĕre to impel: see -ive.] A. adj. 1. a. Having the property of impelling or producing impulsion; characterized by impulsion or impetus.
1604Drayton Moses ii, The goodly horse..Lies where but late disdainfully he trod,..[and] Stirs not when prick'd with the impulsive goad. c1611Chapman Iliad v. 232 The force Of the impulsive chariot. 1621G. Sandys Ovid's Met. vi. (1626) 113 A shaft, which from th'impulsiue bow⁓string flew. 1794Sullivan View Nat. II. 387 The impulsive motion of the planets..gives rise to numberless phænomena. b. Dynamics. (See quot. and impulse n. 2.)
1803J. Wood Princ. Mech. i. 15 When a force produces it's effect instantaneously, it is said to be impulsive. 1807Hutton Course Math. II. 137 If the forces be impulsive or momentary, the motions will be uniform. 1879Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §298 The shot is fired into the block in a horizontal direction..The impulsive penetration is..nearly instantaneous. 2. Impelling or determining to action. impulsive cause (freq. in 17th c., now rare), originating or primary cause.
c1555Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (Camden) 214 The cause impulsive moving the prætor to promulge this edict was [etc.]. 1621Sanderson Serm. I. 180 There is a kind of cause..which the learned..call the impulsive cause: and it is such a cause as moveth and induceth the principal agent, to do that which it doth. 1686A. Horneck Crucif. Jesus xii. 234 The love of God was the impulsive cause, but our sins were the instrumental cause, these brought him to the Cross. 1788Reid Active Powers iii. ii. i. (1803) 159 Some cool principle of action, which has authority without any impulsive force. 1865Ruskin Sesame 6 That thirst [for applause]..is..on the whole, the strongest impulsive influence of average humanity. 1894Month Mar. 392 The impulsive cause of the granting of a dispensation is that which..moves the superior. 3. Of persons, their character, actions, etc.: Actuated or characterized by impulse; apt to be moved by sudden impulse or swayed by emotion.
1847L. Hunt Jar Honey v. (1848) 58 The Scotch have shown a more genial and impulsive spirit in their songs and dances than the English. 1850W. Irving Goldsmith xxviii. 276 Who was very impulsive, and prone to acts of inconsiderate generosity. 1854H. Miller Sch. & Schm. xix. (1860) 208 One of those impulsive acts of which men repent at their leisure. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. I. vi. 558 Such conduct would not be that of a sentimental and impulsive hero. 1897Allbutt Syst. Med. II. 851 Impulsive drunkenness or dipsomania is the result of an hereditary taint. 4. Electr. Consisting of, or of the nature of, an impulse or impulses.
1920Whittaker's Electr. Engineer's Pocket-Bk. (ed. 4) 136 The passage of the spark in such a case appears to involve an impulsive rush of electricity, and the setting up of electric pulses in the neighbourhood of the spark gap can be demonstrated. 1940Chambers's Techn. Dict. 440/2 Impulsive current, a current which comprises one or more impulses in one direction round a circuit, as in dialling. 1947D. G. Fink Radar Engin. xi. 127 The impulsive type of noise (ignition interference and static) so commonly encountered on lower frequencies is generally absent in radar. 1962Newnes Conc. Encycl. Electr. Engin. 466/2 Although the secondary winding [of a magneto] may have 10,000 turns, its voltage is not sufficiently impulsive, however. The contact-breaker is therefore arranged to short-circuit the primary. †B. n. An impelling agent or cause. Obs.
a1628Preston Breastpl. Love (1631) 29 Where love is, it is such a strong impulsive in the heart, it carries one on to serve and please the Lord in all things. 1659H. L'Estrange Alliance Div. Off. xi. 326 This was the genuine and true impulsive to Calvin, to write that letter. |