- impetuous (adj.)
- late 14c., "hot-tempered, fierce;" late 15c., "done or given with a rush of force," from Old French impetuos (13c., Modern French impétueux) and directly from Late Latin impetuosus "impetuous, violent" (source also of Spanish and Italian impetuoso), from Latin impetus "attack" (see impetus). Related: Impetuously; impetuousness.