pel/puls

drive; push

Spelled pel, puls · pellere 'drive, push, strike'; participial stem puls-

Latin pellere meant to drive: repel pushes back, propel pushes forward, and an impulse is a push toward action.

Words built from it

dispel — make a fear, doubt, or mistaken belief disappear
dis- (apart) + pel (drive)
impulse — a sudden urge to act
im- (into; form of in-) + puls (push)
compulsory — required; enforced by a rule or authority
com- (intensively) + puls (drive) + -ory (relating to)
repel — drive back or keep away
re- (back) + pel (drive)
expulsion — the act of forcing someone or something out
ex- (out) + puls (drive) + -ion (action or result)
propel — push or drive forward
pro- (forward) + pel (drive)
pulsate — beat or throb rhythmically
puls (strike) + -ate (act)

pellet — Comes through French pelote 'ball' from Latin pila 'ball,' not pellere 'push.'