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appulse

[uh-puhls]
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noun
  1. energetic motion toward a point.
  2. the act of striking against something.
  3. Astronomy. the approach or occurrence of conjunction between two celestial bodies.
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Origin of appulse

1620–30; < Latin appulsus driven to, landed (past participle of appellere), equivalent to ap- ap-1 + pul- (variant stem of pellere to drive, push) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix
Related formsap·pul·sive, adjectiveap·pul·sive·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

shock, brunt, pound, quiver, rap, bump, ram, impingement, slap, stroke, quake, shake, crash, tremble, blow, jounce, concussion, jar, jolt, crush

Examples from the Web for appulse

Historical Examples

  • May not the effect be mechanical, the appulse of the air separating the flame from the wick.

    The Life of Sir Humphrey Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 2 (of 2)

    John Ayrton Paris

  • The appulse or near approach is but one of the methods by which the spiral nebul may have come into existence.

    Astronomy

    David Todd

  • Appulse, ap-puls′, n. a striking against: the approach of a planet to a conjunction with the sun or a star.

  • Every appulse of life against matter means an added push in the direction of spiritualization.

    The Mystery of Space

    Robert T. Browne

British Dictionary definitions for appulse

appulse

noun
  1. a very close approach of two celestial bodies so that they are in conjunction but no eclipse or occultation occurs
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Derived Formsappulsive, adjectiveappulsively, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin appulsus brought near, from appellere to drive towards, from pellere to drive
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012