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Impelled Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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impelled

[ɪmˈpɛld ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

driving force

Impelled means to drive or urge someone to take action. It suggests a strong motivation or force behind someone's decision or behavior. This term is often used in contexts where external factors push a person into a particular course of action.

Synonyms

compelled, driven, forced, urged.

Examples of usage

  • He was impelled to work hard by his family's expectations.
  • They felt impelled to speak out against injustice.
  • The sudden changes in the market impelled the company to adjust its strategy.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • People often feel impelled to act due to internal motivations like desires or goals.
  • Cognitive dissonance can create a feeling of being impelled when actions conflict with beliefs, pushing individuals to resolve the tension.
  • The concept of impulse control in psychology involves recognizing when one feels impelled to act and making conscious choices instead.

Literature

  • Many protagonists in classic literature are impelled by strong desires or moral dilemmas, driving the plot forward.
  • In Shakespeare's plays, characters often feel impelled by love or ambition, leading to dramatic consequences.
  • Modern novels frequently explore themes of personal growth through characters feeling impelled to change their lives.

Cultural Significance

  • In many cultures, the feeling of being impelled to act can relate to societal expectations, such as family duties or traditions.
  • Art movements often exhibit the impelling feelings of artists expressing dissent or passion, like the Expressionists.
  • Social movements throughout history demonstrate how collective feelings of being impelled can lead to significant societal changes.

Education

  • In motivational research, students who feel impelled to learn often show higher levels of engagement and success.
  • Teachers can help create an environment where learners feel impelled by choice and autonomy instead of obligation.
  • Educational theories suggest that intrinsic motivations are key to feeling impelled to pursue knowledge.

Origin of 'impelled'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'impellere', which means 'to drive or push against'.
  • The prefix 'im-' means 'in' or 'into', while 'pellere' means 'to push'.
  • It first appeared in English in the late 14th century, retaining its core meaning of driving force.

The word 'impelled' originates from the Latin verb 'impellere', which means 'to push into or drive'. It is formed from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'in' or 'into') and 'pellere' (meaning 'to drive' or 'to push'). The transition into Middle English saw the form evolve into 'impellen', ultimately leading to the modern 'impel'. The usage of 'impelled' reflects centuries of linguistic evolution, where it has retained its core meaning of driving or urging action, making it a potent term in the English lexicon, particularly in discussions of motivation, urgency, and necessity.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,721, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.