early 15c., from Latin impellere "to push, strike against; set in motion, drive forward, urge on," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE root *en "in") + pellere "to push, drive" (from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive"). Related: Impelled; impelling.
impecunious
impedance
impede
impediment
impedimenta
impel
impeller
impend
impendent
impenetrable
impenitence