All 32 Uses
impetuous
in
The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Pope)
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- His characters of valour are much alike; even that of Turnus seems no way peculiar, but, as it is, in a superior degree; and we see nothing that differences the courage of Mnestheus from that of Sergestus, Cloanthus, or the rest, In like manner it may be remarked of Statius's heroes, that an air of impetuosity runs through them all; the same horrid and savage courage appears in his Capaneus, Tydeus, Hippomedon, &c.†
Book Pref.impetuosity = impulsiveness (the trait of acting suddenly without much thought)
- Homer hurries and transports us with a commanding impetuosity; Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty; Homer scatters with a generous profusion; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence; Homer, like the Nile, pours out his riches with a boundless overflow; Virgil, like a river in its banks, with a gentle and constant stream.†
Book Pref.
- With indignation sparkling in his eyes, He views the wretch, and sternly thus replies: "Peace, factious monster, born to vex the state, With wrangling talents form'd for foul debate: Curb that impetuous tongue, nor rashly vain, And singly mad, asperse the sovereign reign.†
Book 2impetuous = impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought)
- As torrents roll, increased by numerous rills, With rage impetuous, down their echoing hills Rush to the vales, and pour'd along the plain.†
Book 4 *
- Her words allay the impetuous warrior's heat, The god of arms and martial maid retreat; Removed from fight, on Xanthus' flowery bounds They sat, and listen'd to the dying sounds.†
Book 5
- With that, the blue-eyed virgin wing'd her flight; The hero rush'd impetuous to the fight; With tenfold ardour now invades the plain, Wild with delay, and more enraged by pain.†
Book 5
- From his proud car the prince impetuous springs, On earth he leaps, his brazen armour rings.†
Book 5
- shall we scourge this pride, And drive from fight the impetuous homicide?†
Book 5
- So spoke the guardian of the Trojan state, Then rush'd impetuous through the Scaean gate.†
Book 7
- Once more impetuous dost thou bend thy way, To give to Greece the long divided day?†
Book 7
- From their bored shields the chiefs their javelins drew, Then close impetuous, and the charge renew; Fierce as the mountain-lions bathed in blood, Or foaming boars, the terror of the wood.†
Book 7
- and our answer bear, The glorious combat is no more my care; Not till, amidst yon sinking navy slain, The blood of Greeks shall dye the sable main; Not till the flames, by Hector's fury thrown, Consume your vessels, and approach my own; Just there, the impetuous homicide shall stand, There cease his battle, and there feel our hand.†
Book 9
- Then, as a falcon from the rocky height, Her quarry seen, impetuous at the sight, Forth-springing instant, darts herself from high, Shoots on the wing, and skims along the sky: Such, and so swift, the power of ocean flew; The wide horizon shut him from their view.†
Book 13
- Impetuous Hector thunders at the wall; The hour, the spot, to conquer, or to fall.†
Book 13
- As from some mountain's craggy forehead torn, A rock's round fragment flies, with fury borne, (Which from the stubborn stone a torrent rends,) Precipitate the ponderous mass descends: From steep to steep the rolling ruin bounds; At every shock the crackling wood resounds; Still gathering force, it smokes; and urged amain, Whirls, leaps, and thunders down, impetuous to the plain: There stops—so Hector.†
Book 13
- This said, he rushes where the combat burns; Swift to his tent the Cretan king returns: From thence, two javelins glittering in his hand, And clad in arms that lighten'd all the strand, Fierce on the foe the impetuous hero drove, Like lightning bursting from the arm of Jove, Which to pale man the wrath of heaven declares, Or terrifies the offending world with wars; In streamy sparkles, kindling all the skies, From pole to pole the trail of glory flies: Thus his bright armour o'er the dazzled throng Gleam'd dreadful, as the monarch flash'd along.†
Book 13
- The riven armour sends a jarring sound; His labouring heart heaves with so strong a bound, The long lance shakes, and vibrates in the wound; Fast flowing from its source, as prone he lay, Life's purple tide impetuous gush'd away.†
Book 13
- Cease we at length to waste our blood in vain, And launch what ships lie nearest to the main; Leave these at anchor, till the coming night: Then, if impetuous Troy forbear the fight, Bring all to sea, and hoist each sail for flight.†
Book 14
- Struck for the immortal race with timely fear, From frantic Mars she snatch'd the shield and spear; Then the huge helmet lifting from his head, Thus to the impetuous homicide she said: "By what wild passion, furious!†
Book 15
- As furious, Hector thunder'd threats aloud, And rush'd enraged before the Trojan crowd; Then swift invades the ships, whose beaky prores Lay rank'd contiguous on the bending shores; So the strong eagle from his airy height, Who marks the swans' or cranes' embodied flight, Stoops down impetuous, while they light for food, And, stooping, darkens with his wings the flood.†
Book 15
- As when the flocks neglected by the swain, Or kids, or lambs, lie scatter'd o'er the plain, A troop of wolves the unguarded charge survey, And rend the trembling, unresisting prey: Thus on the foe the Greeks impetuous came; Troy fled, unmindful of her former fame.†
Book 16
- Not with less noise, with less impetuous force, The tide of Trojans urge their desperate course, Than when in autumn Jove his fury pours, And earth is loaden with incessant showers; (When guilty mortals break the eternal laws, Or judges, bribed, betray the righteous cause;) From their deep beds he bids the rivers rise, And opens all the flood-gates of the skies: The impetuous torrents from their hills obey, Whole fields are drown'd, and mountains swept away; Loud roars the deluge till it meets the main; And trembling man sees all his labours vain!†
Book 16
- Not with less noise, with less impetuous force, The tide of Trojans urge their desperate course, Than when in autumn Jove his fury pours, And earth is loaden with incessant showers; (When guilty mortals break the eternal laws, Or judges, bribed, betray the righteous cause;) From their deep beds he bids the rivers rise, And opens all the flood-gates of the skies: The impetuous torrents from their hills obey, Whole fields are drown'd, and mountains swept away; Loud roars the deluge till it meets the main; And trembling man sees all his labours vain!†
Book 16
- And now Minerva from the realms of air Descends impetuous, and renews the war; For, pleased at length the Grecian arms to aid, The lord of thunders sent the blue-eyed maid.†
Book 17
- But erring from its aim, the impetuous spear Struck to the dust the squire and charioteer Of martial Merion: Coeranus his name, Who left fair Lyctus for the fields of fame.†
Book 17
- 'Tis in our hands alone our hopes remain, 'Tis our own vigour must the dead regain, And save ourselves, while with impetuous hate Troy pours along, and this way rolls our fate.†
Book 17
- So grieves Achilles; and, impetuous, vents To all his Myrmidons his loud laments.†
Book 18
- Not so Pelides; furious to engage, He rush'd impetuous.†
Book 20
- Through Mulius' head then drove the impetuous spear: The warrior falls, transfix'd from ear to ear.†
Book 20
- Turn then, impetuous!†
Book 21
- Stung with new ardour, thus by heaven impell'd, He springs impetuous, and invades the field: O'er all the expanded plain the waters spread; Heaved on the bounding billows danced the dead, Floating 'midst scatter'd arms; while casques of gold And turn'd-up bucklers glitter'd as they roll'd.†
Book 21
- Swift at the mandate pleased Tritonia flies, And stoops impetuous from the cleaving skies.†
Book 22
Definitions:
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(1)
(impetuous as in: an impetuous decision) impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) -- often with an unfortunate consequence
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(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) In historic literature, impetuous often refers to any rapid, forceful, and/or violent movement.