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Impulsive vs Vagary - What's the difference?

impulsive | vagary |

As nouns the difference between impulsive and vagary

is that impulsive is that which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent while vagary is an erratic, unpredictable occurrence or action.

As a adjective impulsive

is having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.

impulsive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having the power of driving or impelling; giving an impulse; moving; impellent.
  • * Prior
  • Poor men! poor papers! We and they / Do some impulsive force obey.
  • Actuated by impulse or by transient feelings; inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration.
  • * Longfellow
  • my heart, impulsive and wayward
  • (mechanics) Acting momentarily, or by impulse; not continuous – said of forces.
  • References

    * *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which impels or gives an impulse; an impelling agent.
  • One whose behaviour or personality is characterized by being impulsive.
  • ----

    vagary

    English

    Noun

    (vagaries)
  • An erratic, unpredictable occurrence or action.
  • * 1871 , , At Last: A Christmas In The West Indies , ch. 8:
  • It now turns out that the Pitch Lake, like most other things, owes its appearance on the surface to no convulsion or vagary at all, but to a most slow, orderly, and respectable process of nature, by which buried vegetable matter, which would have become peat, and finally brown coal, in a temperate climate, becomes, under the hot tropic soil, asphalt and oil.
  • An impulsive or illogical desire; a caprice or whim.
  • * 1905 , , War of the Classes , Preface:
  • And then came the day when my socialism grew respectable,—still a vagary of youth, it was held, but romantically respectable.

    Derived terms

    * vagarity * vagarious

    See also

    * vaguery