driving force

The impetus, power, or energy behind something in motion, as in He was clearly the driving force in the new administration. This term transfers the force that sets in motion an engine or vehicle to other enterprises. Ralph Waldo Emerson was among the first to use it figuratively ( English Traits, 1856): "The ability of its journals is the driving force."

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Diana	die-AN-ə (English), dee-AH-nah (Italian, German, Dutch)	English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian,
Goodman	['gudmən]
Janelle	jə-NEL	English
Manfried	MAHN-freet	German
Rainbow	RAYN-bo	English (Rare)
Antwan	an-TWAHN	African American