So its modern definition of "innate tendency" is 1560s but its
ancient definition is "instigation, impulse"
So, impulse. It comes from a place whose source we don't know.
instinct (n.)
early 15c., "a prompting," from Latin instinctus "instigation,
impulse," noun use of past participle of instinguere "to incite,
impel," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + stinguere "prick, goad,"
from PIE *steig- "to prick, stick, pierce" (see stick (v.)).
Meaning "animal faculty of intuitive perception" is from
mid-15c., from notion of "natural prompting." Sense of "innate
tendency" is first recorded 1560s.
