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impelling

[im-pel]

Origin

verb (used with object), -pelled, -pel·ling.

to drive or urge forward; press on; incite or constrain to action.

to drive or cause to move onward; propel; impart motion to.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English impellen < Latin impellere to strike against, set in motion (transitive), equivalent to im- im-¹ + pellere to strike, move (something); akin to pulse¹

Related forms

un·im·pelled, adjective

Can be confused: 1. compel, impel (see synonym note at compel); 2. compelled, impelled.

Synonyms
1. actuate. See compel.

Antonyms
1. restrain.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Impelling is always a great word to know.

So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a fool or simpleton; ninny.

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

impel

1490, from L. impellere "to push, strike against, drive forward, urge on," from in- "into" + pellere "to push, drive."

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