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Synonyms

appulse

American  
[uh-puhls] / əˈpʌls /

noun

  1. energetic motion toward a point.

  2. the act of striking against something.

  3. Astronomy. the approach or occurrence of conjunction between two celestial bodies.


appulse British  
/ əˈpʌls /

noun

  1. a very close approach of two celestial bodies so that they are in conjunction but no eclipse or occultation occurs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • appulsive adjective
  • appulsively adverb

Etymology

Origin of appulse

1620–30; < Latin appulsus driven to, landed (past participle of appellere ), equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + pul- (variant stem of pellere to drive, push) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was an appulse of the moon, visible in most of North America and parts of Europe.

From Time Magazine Archive

There had been a total solar eclipse, new comets, unusual sunspots and the only perfect lunar appulse in four centuries.

From Time Magazine Archive

In all consonants there is an appulse of the organs.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

I have heard, that if these sublime geniuses are awakened from their reveries by the appulse of external circumstances, they start, and exhibit all the perturbation and amazement of cataleptic patients.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 08 by Edgeworth, Maria

Genius has placed the more exalted spiritual natures in cometary worlds, and this last fiery revolution may be produced by the appulse of a comet.

From Consolations in Travel or, the Last Days of a Philosopher by Morley, Henry