impetus

Noun

The force or energy that drives a body or action forward.
a force that moves something along
the act of applying force suddenly
Anything that impels; a stimulating factor.
A force, either internal or external, that impels; an impulse.
The force or energy associated with a moving body; a stimulus.
A principle of motive force, held as equivalent to weight times velocity by John Buridan, in an auxiliary theory of Aristotelian dynamics introduced by John Philoponus, describing projectile motion against gravity as linear until it transitions to a vertical drop and the intellectual precursor to the concepts of inertia, momentum and acceleration in classical mechanics.
An activity in response to a stimulus.

Examples

The desire for a high score provided the impetus for his aggressive Scrabble strategy.
The outbreak of World War II in 1939 gave a new impetus to receiver development.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Latin impetus (“a rushing upon, an attack, assault, onset”), from impetō (“to rush upon, attack”), from in- (“upon”) + petō (“to seek, fall upon”).

Synonyms

drift, impulse, impulsion

Scrabble Score: 11

impetus: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
impetus: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
impetus: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

impetus: valid Words With Friends Word