Pushful

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpʊʃfʊl/

Definitions

1. Having a strong tendency to insist on action or influence others with energy
2. Showing ambition and eagerness in asserting oneself or driving efforts forward
3. Displaying a bold and determined nature that compels or urges action

Etymology: "Pushful" is a plain compound: "push" plus the suffix "-ful", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "characterised by." Put together, it describes someone full of push, meaning drive and forcefulness. The base word "push" came into English in the late Middle Ages, probably from Old French "pousser," itself from Latin "pulsare," meaning "to beat or strike." The "-ful" ending is much older in English, descending from the Old English word "full," which over time shrank into a suffix. Words like "hopeful" and "careful" follow the same pattern. The result is a word that sounds rather more aggressive than its neighbours. Where "pushy" tends to carry a note of irritation, "pushful" describes the energy itself, with a flavour of being full of drive and determination.