[ad. L. appuls-us, n. of completed action f. appuls- ppl. stem of appellĕre, f. ap- = ad- to + pellĕre to drive.]
1. A driving or energetic motion toward or against a place. † spec. The running of a ship towards any point (obs.).
a. 1626. Bacon, Phys. Ess., in Phil. Wks. (1733), III. 626 (R.). The Hours differ according to the Appulse of the Water to the Shoars.
1673. Grew, Anat. Roots, II. § 28. The continual appulse of fresh sap.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., I. III. 16. Light … operateth by appulse upon the eye.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., II. 412. The history of Deucalion, and of the appulse of the Ark.
1854. Owen, in Orr’s Circ. Sc., Org. Nat., I. 265. The grinding surface of the crown receives the appulse of the opposing tooth.
b. fig.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. I. II. xiii. Or ’fore some storm, when their [i.e., birds’] quick sprights be stird With nearer strong appulse.
1763. Shenstone, Elegies, xvi. 11. Foe to the dull appulse of vulgar joy.
2. Astr. The arrival of a star or planet at the meridian or other point; the coming into conjunction of two heavenly bodies.
1668. T. Smith, Voy. Constant., in Misc. Cur. (1708), III. 58. The fixed Stars, and the appulse of the Moon to them.
1760. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 65/1. A comet … made a near appulse to the star in Orion’s right knee.
1834. U.K.S., Nat. Philos., Astron., i. 13/1. Each star is found to have precisely the same interval between its successive appearances on, or as they are also termed, appulses to, the meridian.
