nisus

American  

[nahy-suhs] / ˈnaɪ səs /

noun

• nisus
  plural

1. an effort or striving toward a particular goal or attainment; impulse.

---

nisus British  

/ ˈnaɪsəs /

noun

1. an impulse towards or striving after a goal

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• nisus
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of nisus

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin nīsus “planting one’s feet firmly, strong muscular effort,” equivalent to nīt(ī) “to support or exert oneself” + -sus, variant of -tus suffix denoting the action of the verb

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nisus

They put forth their nisus, and produce phenomena by a fixed and invariable law, established by the divine will.

From A Review of Edwards's by Henry Philip Tappan

The nisus of gravitation we do not observe; we observe merely the facts of gravitation.

From A Review of Edwards's by Henry Philip Tappan

Must its nisus, its self-determining energy, or its volition, follow a uniform and inevitable law?

From A Review of Edwards's by Henry Philip Tappan

And in physical causes, we do not observe the nisus of these causes, but only the phenomena which form the sequents of this nisus.

From A Review of Edwards's by Henry Philip Tappan

It may be called a power arbitrary and contingent; but this means only that it is a power which absolutely puts forth its own nisus, and is free.

From A Review of Edwards's by Henry Philip Tappan

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---