Mo-mēnʹtum, n.

n.; Lat. pl. MO-MĚNʹTA; Eng. pl. MO-MĚNʹTUMS. [Lat. See MOMENT.]

1. (Mech.) The quantity of motion in a moving body, being always proportioned to the quantity of matter multiplied into the velocity; impetus.
2. Essential element, or constituent element.

I shall state the several momenta of the distinction in separate propositions. Sir W. Hamilton.