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Where does the word "impetuous" come from? It comes from Late Latin impetuosus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "impetuous" come from? It comes from Late Latin impetuosus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Impetuous’s story begins in Late Latin: impetuosus meant “violent.” From 'impetus', attack. It reached English by 1300s as impetuous. Came into English through French 'impétueux'. Today, impetuous means acting quickly without thought.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient impetuosus "violent", from 'impetus', attack.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s impetuous "violent", came into English through French 'impétueux'.