impulse
/ˈɪmpʌls/·임펄스·noun
a sudden urge to act
LatinCEFR B2
Root
im- (in, into) + Latin 'pellere' (to push)
Latin impulsus (a push from within) → Middle French impulse → English impulse
In a word
im- (in) + puls (push) = 'a push surging from inside'. The same root names both nerve impulses (the body's push) and impulse buys (the mind's). Etymology is firm: they're the same push. That impulse purchase and a nerve impulse share a family says something — the root sees mind and body as one circuit.
Examples
I bought the dress on impulse.
A nerve impulse travels very fast.
Resist the impulse to reply at once.
Related
expelrepelcompelpropelimpulsive