Defn: The act iif immuring, or the state of being immured; imprsonment.
IMMUSICALIm*mu"sic*al, a.
Defn: Inharmonious; unmusical; discordant. Bacon.
IMMUTABILITYIm*mu`ta*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. immutabilitas: cf. F. immutabilité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being immutable; immutableness. Heb. vi. 17.
IMMUTABLE Im*mu"ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. immutabilis; pref. im- not + mutabilis mutable. See Mutable.]
Defn: Not mutable; not capable or susceptible of change; unchangeable; unalterable. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation. Heb. vi. 18. Immutable, immortal, infinite, Eternal King. Milton. — Im*mu"ta*ble*ness, n. — Im*mu"ta*bly, adv.
IMMUTATEIm*mu"tate, a. Etym: [L. immutatus, p. p. of immature.]
Defn: Unchanged. [Obs.]
IMMUTATION Im"mu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. immutatio, from immutare, immutatum, to change. See Immute.]
Defn: Change; alteration; mutation. [R.] Dr. H. More.
IMMUTE Im*mute", v. t. Etym: [L. immutare, immutatum; perf. im- in + mutare to change : cf. OF. immuter.]
Defn: To change or alter. [Obs.] J. Salkeld.
IMP Imp, n. Etym: [OE. imp a graft, AS. impa; akin to Dan. ympe, Sw. ymp, prob. fr. LL. impotus, Gr. be. See 1st In-, Be.]
1. A shoot; a scion; a bud; a slip; a graft. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. An offspring; progeny; child; scion. [Obs.] The tender imp was weaned. Fairfax.
3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a puny demon; a contemptible evil worker. To mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling imps. Beattie.
4. Something added to, or united with, another, to lengthen it out or repair it, — as, an addition to a beehive; a feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; a length of twisted hair in a fishing line. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
IMP Imp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imped; p. pr. & vb. n. Imping.] Etym: [AS. impian to imp, ingraft, plant; akin to Dan. ympe, Sw. ympa, OHG. impfon, impiton, G. impfen. See Imp, n.]
1. To graft; to insert as a scion. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: To graft with new feathers, as a wing; to splice a broken feather. Hence, Fig.: To repair; to extend; to increase; to strengthen to equip. [Archaic] Imp out our drooping country's broken wing. Shak. Who lazily imp their wings with other men's plumes. Fuller. Here no frail Muse shall imp her crippled wing. Holmes. Help, ye tart satirists, to imp my rage With all the scorpions that should whip this age. Cleveland.
IMPACABLEIm*pa"ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. pref. im- not + pacare to quiet. SeePacate.]
Defn: Not to be appeased or quieted. [Obs.] Spenser.— Im*pa"ca*bly, adv.
IMPACKMENTIm*pack"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. im- in + pack.]
Defn: The state of being closely surrounded, crowded, or pressed, as by ice. [R.] Kane.
IMPACTIm*pact", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impacted; p. pr. & vb. n. Impacting.]Etym: [L. impactus, p. p. of impingere to push, strike against. SeeImpinge.]
Defn: To drive close; to press firmly together: to wedge into a place. Woodward.
IMPACTIm"pact, n.
1. Contact or impression by touch; collision; forcible contact; force communicated. The quarrel, by that impact driven. Southey.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: The single instantaneous stroke of a body in motion against another either in motion or at rest.
IMPACTEDIm*pact"ed, a.
Defn: Driven together or close. Impacted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the fragments are driven into each other so as to be immovable.
IMPACTIONIm*pac"tion, n. Etym: [L. impactio a striking : cf. F. impaction.]
1. (Surg.)
Defn: The driving of one fragment of bone into another so that the fragments are not movable upon each other; as, impaction of the skull or of the hip.
2. An immovable packing; (Med.), a lodgment of something in a strait or passage of the body; as, impaction of the fetal head in the strait of the pelvis; impaction of food or feces in the intestines of man or beast.
IMPAINTIm*paint", v. t.
Defn: To paint; to adorn with colors. [R.] "To impaint his cause."Shak.
IMPAIR Im*pair", v. t. [imp & p. p. Impaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Impairing.] [Written also empair.] Etym: [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.]
Defn: To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, orstrength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind,value.Time sensibly all things impairs. Roscommon.In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. Pope.
Syn. — To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.
IMPAIRIm*pair", v. t.
Defn: To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.
IMPAIRIm"pair, a. Etym: [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.]
Defn: Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.]
IMPAIRIm*pair", n.
Defn: Diminution; injury. [Obs.]
IMPAIRERIm*pair"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, impairs.
IMPAIRMENTIm*pair"ment, n. Etym: [OE. enpeirement, OF. empirement.]
Defn: The state of being impaired; injury. "The impairment of my health." Dryden.
IMPALATABLEIm*pal"a*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Unpalatable. [R.]
IMPALEIm*pale", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Impaling.]Etym: [See 2d Empale.]
1. To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake. See Empale. Then with what life remains, impaled, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake. Addison.
2. To inclose, as with pales or stakes; to surround. Impale him with your weapons round about. Shak. Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire. Milton.
3. (Her.)
Defn: To join, as two coats of arms on one shield, palewise; hence, to join in honorable mention. Ordered the admission of St. Patrick to the same to be matched and impaled with the blessed Virgin in the honor thereof. Fuller.
IMPALEMENTIm*pale"ment, n.
1. The act of impaling, or the state of being impaled. Byron.
2. An inclosing by stakes or pales, or the space so inclosed. H. Brooke.
3. That which hedges in; inclosure. [R.] Milton.
4. (Her.)
Defn: The division of a shield palewise, or by a vertical line, esp. for the purpose of putting side by side the arms of husband and wife. See Impale, 3.
IMPALLAIm*pal"la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pallah deer of South Africa.
IMPALLIDIm*pal"lid, v. t.
Defn: To make pallid; to blanch. [Obs.] Feltham.
IMPALMIm*palm", v. t.
Defn: To grasp with or hold in the hand. [R.] J. Barlow.
IMPALPABILITYIm*pal`pa*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impalpabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being impalpable. Jortin.
IMPALPABLE Im*pal"pa*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + palpable: cf. F. impalpable.]
1. Not palpable; that cannot be felt; extremely fine, so that no grit can be perceived by touch. "Impalpable powder." Boyle.
2. Not material; intangible; incorporeal. "Impalpable, void, and bodiless." Holland.
3. Not apprehensible, or readily apprehensible, by the mind; unreal; as, impalpable distinctions.
IMPALPABLYIm*pal"pa*bly, adv.
Defn: In an impalpable manner.
IMPALSYIm*pal"sy, v. t.
Defn: To palsy; to paralyze; to deaden. [R.]
IMPANATEIm*pa"nate, a. Etym: [LL. impanatus, p. p. of impanare to impanate;L. pref. im- in + panis bread.]
Defn: Embodied in bread, esp. in the bread of the eucharist. [Obs.]Cranmer.
IMPANATEIm*pa"nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impanated; p. pr. & vb. n.Impanating.]
Defn: To embody in bread, esp. in the bread of the eucharist. [Obs.]
IMPANATIONIm"pa*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impanation. See Impanate, a.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Embodiment in bread; the supposed real presence and union of Christ's material body and blood with the substance of the elements of the eucharist without a change in their nature; — distinguished from transubstantiation, which supposes a miraculous change of the substance of the elements. It is akin to consubstantiation.
IMPANATORIm*pa"na*tor, n. Etym: [LL.] (Eccl.)
Defn: One who holds the doctrine of impanation.
IMPANELIm*pan"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impaneled or Impanelled; p. pr. & vb.n. Impaneling or Impanelling.] Etym: [Pref. im- in + panel. Cf.Empanel.] [Written also empanel.]
Defn: To enter in a list, or on a piece of parchment, called a panel; to form or enroll, as a list of jurors in a court of justice. Blackstone.
IMPANELMENTIm*pan"el*ment, n.
Defn: The act or process of impaneling, or the state of being impaneled.
IMPARADISEIm*par"a*dise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imparadised; p. pr. & vb. n.Imparadising.] Etym: [Pref. im- + paradise: cf. F. emparadiser.]
Defn: To put in a state like paradise; to make supremely happy."Imparadised in one another's arms." Milton.
IMPARALLELEDIm*par"al*leled, a.
Defn: Unparalleled. [Obs.]
IMPARDONABLEIm*par"don*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. impardonnable.]
Defn: Unpardonable. [Obs.] South.
IMPARIDIGITATEIm*par`i*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. impar unequal + digitus finger.](Anat.)
Defn: Having an odd number of fingers or toes, either one, three, or five, as in the horse, tapir, rhinoceros, etc.
IMPARIPINNATEIm*par"i*pin"nate, a. Etym: [L. impar unequal + E. pinnate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pinnate with a single terminal leaflet.
IMPARISYLLABIC Im*par"i*syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [L. impar unequal + E. syllabic: cf. F. imparisyllabique.] (Gram.)
Defn: Not consisting of an equal number of syllables; as, an imparisyllabic noun, one which has not the same number of syllables in all the cases; as, lapis, lapidis; mens, mentis.
IMPARITYIm*par"i*ty, n. Etym: [Pref. im- + parity: cf. F. imparité.]
1. Inequality; disparity; disproportion; difference of degree, rank, excellence, number, etc. Milton.
2. Lack of comparison, correspondence, or suitableness; incongruity. In this region of merely intellectual notion we are at once encountered by the imparity of the object and the faculty employed upon it. I. Taylor.
3. Indivisibility into equal parts; oddness. [R.]
IMPARKIm*park", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imparked, p. pr. & vb. n. Imparking.]Etym: [Cf. Empark.]
Defn: To inclose for a park; to sever from a common; hence, toinclose or shut up.They . . . impark them [the sheep] within hurdles. Holland.
IMPARL Im*parl", v. i. Etym: [OF. emparler; pref. em- (L. in) + parler to speak. See In, prep., and Parley.]
1. To hold discourse; to parley. [Obs.] Sir. T. North.
2. (Law)
Defn: To have time before pleading; to have delay for mutual adjustment. Blackstone.
IMPARLANCE Im*par"lance, n. Etym: [Cf. Emparlance, Parlance.] [Written also inparliance.]
1. Mutual discourse; conference. [Obs.]
2. (Law) (a) Time given to a party to talk or converse with his opponent, originally with the object of effecting, if possible, an amicable adjustment of the suit. The actual object, however, has long been merely to obtain further time to plead, answer to the allegations of the opposite party. (b) Hence, the delay or continuance of a suit.
Note: Imparlance and continuance by imparlance have been abolished inEngland. Wharton (Law Dict. ).
IMPARSONEEIm*par`son*ee", a. Etym: [OF. empersone. See 1st In-, and Parson.](Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: Presented, instituted, and inducted into a rectory, and in full possession. — n.
Defn: A clergyman so inducted.
IMPART Im*part", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Imparting.] Etym: [OF. impartir, empartir, L. impartire, impertire; pref. im- in + partire to part, divide, fr. pars, partis, part, share. See Part, n. ]
1. To bestow a share or portion of; to give, grant, or communicate; to allow another to partake in; as, to impart food to the poor; the sun imparts warmth. Well may he then to you his cares impart. Dryden.
2. To obtain a share of; to partake of. [R.] Munday.
3. To communicate the knowledge of; to make known; to show by words or tokens; to tell; to disclose. Gentle lady, When I did first impart my love to you. Shak.
Syn. — To share; yield; confer; convey; grant; give; reveal; disclose; discover; divulge. See Communicate.
IMPARTIm*part", v. i.
1. To give a part or share. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. Luke iii. 11.
2. To hold a conference or consultation. Blackstone.
IMPARTANCEIm*part"ance, n.
Defn: Impartation.
IMPARTATIONIm`par*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of imparting, or the thing imparted.The necessity of this impartation. I. Taylor.
IMPARTERIm*part"er, n.
Defn: One who imparts.
IMPARTIALIm*par"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + partial: cf. F. impartial.]
Defn: Not partial; not favoring one more than another; treating allalike; unprejudiced; unbiased; disinterested; equitable; fair; just.Shak.Jove is impartial, and to both the same. Dryden.A comprehensive and impartial view. Macaulay.
IMPARTIALISTIm*par"tial*ist, n.
Defn: One who is impartial. [R.] Boyle.
IMPARTIALITYIm*par`ti*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impartialité.]
Defn: The quality of being impartial; freedom from bias or favoritism; disinterestedness; equitableness; fairness; as, impartiality of judgment, of treatment, etc. Impartiality strips the mind of prejudice and passion. South.
IMPARTIALLYIm*par"tial*ly, a.
Defn: In an impartial manner.
IMPARTIALNESSIm*par"tial*ness, n.
Defn: Impartiality. Sir W. Temple.
IMPARTIBILITYIm*part`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being impartible; communicability. Blackstone.
IMPARTIBILITYIm*part`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impartibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being incapable of division into parts; indivisibility. Holland.
IMPARTIBLEIm*part"i*ble, a. Etym: [From Impart.]
Defn: Capable of being imparted or communicated.
IMPARTIBLE Im*part"i*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + partible: cf. F. impartible.]
Defn: Not partible; not subject to partition; indivisible; as, an impartible estate. Blackatone.
IMPARTMENTIm*part"ment, n.
Defn: The act of imparting, or that which is imparted, communicated,or disclosed. [R.]It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment diddesire To you alone. Shak.
IMPASSABLEIm*pass"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. Unpassable.]
Defn: Incapable of being passed; not admitting a passage; as, animpassable road, mountain, or gulf. Milton.— Im*pass"a*ble*ness, n.— Im*pass"a*bly, adv.
IMPASSEIm`passe" (aN`päs"; E. im*pas"), n. [F.]
Defn: An impassable road or way; a blind alley; cul-de-sac; fig., a position or predicament affording no escape.
The issue from the present impasse will, in all probability, proceed from below, not from above. Arnold White.
IMPASSIBILITY Im*pas`si*bil"i*ty, a. Etym: [L. impassibilitas: cf. F. impassibilité.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being impassible; insusceptibility of injury from external things.
IMPASSIBLE Im*pas"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. impassibilis; pref. im- not + passibilis passable: cf. F. impassible. See Passible.]
Defn: Incapable of suffering; inaccessible to harm or pain; not to be touched or moved to passion or sympathy; unfeeling, or not showing feeling; without sensation. "Impassible to the critic." Sir W. Scott. Secure of death, I should contemn thy dart Though naked, and impassible depart. Dryden.
IMPASSIBLENESSIm*pas"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Impassibility.
IMPASSIONIm*pas"sion, v. t. Etym: [Pref. im- in + passion. Cf. Empassion,Impassionate, v.]
Defn: To move or affect strongly with passion. [Archaic] Chapman.
IMPASSIONABLEIm*pas"sion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Excitable; susceptible of strong emotion.
IMPASSIONATEIm*pas"sion*ate, a.
Defn: Strongly affected. Smart.
IMPASSIONATEIm*pas"sion*ate, v. t.
Defn: To affect powerfully; to arouse the passions of. Dr. H. More.
IMPASSIONATEIm*pas"sion*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + passionate.]
Defn: Without passion or feeling. Burton.
IMPASSIONEDIm*pas"sioned, p. p. & a.
Defn: Actuated or characterized by passion or zeal; showing warmth of feeling; ardent; animated; excited; as, an impassioned orator or discourse.
IMPASSIVEIm*pas"sive, a.
Defn: Not susceptible of pain or suffering; apathetic; impassible;unmoved.Impassive as the marble in the quarry. De Quincey.On the impassive ice the lightings play. Pope.— Im*pas"sive*ly, adv.— Im*pas"sive*ness, n.
IMPASSIVITYIm`pas*siv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being insusceptible of feeling, pain, or suffering; impassiveness.
IMPASTATIONIm`pas*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. See Impaste.]
Defn: The act of making into paste; that which is formed into a paste or mixture; specifically, a combination of different substances by means of cements.
IMPASTEIm*paste", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Impasting.]Etym: [Pref. im- in + paste: cf. It. impastare, OF. empaster, F.empâter. See 1st In- and Paste.]
1. To knead; to make into paste; to concrete. "Blood . . . baked and impasted." Shak.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: To lay color on canvas by uniting them skillfully together.[R.] Cf. Impasto.
IMPASTINGIm*past"ing, (Paint.)
Defn: The laying on of colors to produce impasto.
IMPASTOIm*pas"to, n. Etym: [It. See Impaste.] (Paint.)
Defn: The thickness of the layer or body of pigment applied by the painter to his canvas with especial reference to the juxtaposition of different colors and tints in forming a harmonious whole. Fairholt.
IMPASTUREIm*pas"ture, v. t.
Defn: To place in a pasture; to foster. [R.] T. Adams.
IMPATIBLE Im*pat"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. impatibilis; pref. im- not + patibilis supportable. See Patible.]
1. Not capable of being borne; impassible. A spirit, and so impatible of material fire. Fuller.
IMPATIENCE Im*pa"tience n. Etym: [OE. impacience, F. impatience, fr. L. impatientia.]
Defn: The quality of being impatient; want of endurance of pain, suffering, opposition, or delay; eagerness for change, or for something expected; restlessness; chafing of spirit; fretfulness; passion; as, the impatience of a child or an invalid. I then, . . . Out of my grief and my impatience, Answered neglectingly. Shak. With huge impatience he inly swelt More for great sorrow that he could not pass, Than for the burning torment which he felt. Spenser.
IMPATIENCYIm*pa"tien*cy, n.
Defn: Impatience. [Obs.]
IMPATIENSIm*pa"ti*ens, n. Etym: [L., impatient.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, several species of which have very beautiful flowers; — so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with considerable force. Called also touch-me-not, jewelweed, and snapweed. I. Balsamina (sometimes called lady's slipper) is the common garden balsam.
IMPATIENT Im*pa"tient, a. Etym: [OE. impacient, F. impatient, fr. L. impatiens; pref. im- not + patiens patient. See Patient.]
1. Not patient; not bearing with composure; intolerant; uneasy; fretful; restless, because of pain, delay, or opposition; eager for change, or for something expected; hasty; passionate; — often followed by at, for, of, and under. A violent, sudden, and impatient necessity. Jer. Taylor. Fame, impatient of extremes, decays Not more by envy than excess of praise. Pope. The impatient man will not give himself time to be informed of the matter that lies before him. Addison. Dryden was poor and impatient of poverty. Macaulay.
2. Not to be borne; unendurable. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. Prompted by, or exhibiting, impatience; as, impatient speeches or replies. Shak.
Syn. — Restless; uneasy; changeable; hot; eager; fretful; intolerant; passionate.
IMPATIENTIm*pa"tient, n.
Defn: One who is impatient. [R.]
IMPATIENTLYIm*pa"tient*ly, adv.
Defn: In an impatient manner.
IMPATRONIZATIONIm*pat`ron*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: Absolute seignory or possession; the act of investing with such possession. [R.] Cotgrave.
IMPATRONIZEIm*pat"ron*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impatronized; p. pr. & vb. n.Impatronizing.]
Defn: To make lord or master; as, to impatronize one's self of a seigniory. [R.] Bacon.
IMPAVEIm*pave", v. t.
Defn: To pave. [Poetic]Impaved with rude fidelity Of art mosaic. Wordsworth.
IMPAVIDIm*pav"id, a. Etym: [L. impavidus. See In- not, and Pavid.]
Defn: Fearless.— Im*pav"id*ly, adv.
IMPAWNIm*pawn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Impawning.]Etym: [Pref. im- + pawn: cf. Empawn.]
Defn: To put in pawn; to pledge. Shak.
IMPEACH Im*peach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impeached; p. pr. & vb. n. Impeaching.] Etym: [OE. empeechier to prevent, hinder, bar, F. empêcher, L. impedicare to entangle; pref. im- in + pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and Appeach, Dispatch, Impede.]
1. To hinder; to impede; to prevent. [Obs.]These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach his journey to theHoly Land. Sir J. Davies.A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance. Howell.
2. To charge with a crime or misdemeanor; to accuse; especially to charge (a public officer), before a competent tribunal, with misbehavior in office; to cite before a tribunal for judgement of official misconduct; to arraign; as, to impeach a judge. See Impeachment.
3. Hence, to charge with impropriety; to dishonor; to bring discredit on; to call in question; as, to impeach one's motives or conduct. And doth impeach the freedom of the state. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper.
Note: When used in law with reference to a witness, the term signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a witness may be impeached by showing that he has made statements out of court contradictory to what he swears at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for veracity is bad, etc.
Syn. — To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair; disparage; discredit. See Accuse.
IMPEACHIm*peach", n.
Defn: Hindrance; impeachment. [Obs.]
IMPEACHABLEIm*peach"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be impeached; liable to impeachment; chargeable with acrime.Owners of lands in fee simple are not impeachable for waste. Z.Swift.
IMPEACHERIm*peach"er, n.
Defn: One who impeaches.
IMPEACHMENTIm*peach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. empêchement.]
Defn: The act of impeaching, or the state of being impeached; as: (a) Hindrance; impediment; obstruction. [Obs.] Willing to march on to Calais, Without impeachment. Shak.
(b) A calling to account; arraignment; especially, of a public officer for maladministration. The consequence of Coriolanus' impeachment had like to have been fatal to their state. Swift.
(c) A calling in question as to purity of motives, rectitude of conduct, credibility, etc.; accusation; reproach; as, an impeachment of motives. Shak.
Note: In England, it is the privilege or right of the House of Commons to impeach, and the right of the House of Lords to try and determine impeachments. In the United States, it is the right of the House of Representatives to impeach, and of the Senate to try and determine impeachments. Articles of impeachment. See under Article. — Impeachment of waste (Law), restraint from, or accountability for, injury; also, a suit for damages for injury. Abbott.
IMPEARLIm*pearl", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impearled; p. pr. & vb. n.Impearling.] Etym: [Pref. im- in + pearl: cf. F. emperler.]
1. To form into pearls, or into that which resembles pearls. [Poetic] Dewdrops which the sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower. Milton.
2. To decorate as with pearls or with anything resembling pearls.[Poetic]With morning dews impearled. Mrs. Browning.The dews of the morning impearl every thorn. R. Digby.
IMPECCABILITYIm*pec`ca*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impeccabilité.]
Defn: the quality of being impeccable; exemption from sin, error, oroffense.Infallibility and impeccability are two of his attributes. Pope.
IMPECCABLE Im*pec"ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. impeccabilis; pref. im- not + peccare to err, to sin: cf. F. impeccable.]
Defn: Not liable to sin; exempt from the possibility of doing wrong. — n.
Defn: One who is impeccable; esp., one of a sect of Gnostic heretics who asserted their sinlessness. God is infallible, impeccable, and absolutely perfect. P. Skelton.
IMPECCANCYIm*pec"can*cy, n.
Defn: Sinlessness. Bp. Hall.
IMPECCANTIm*pec"cant, a.
Defn: Sinless; impeccable. Byron.
IMPECUNIOSITYIm`pe*cu`ni*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being impecunious. Thackeray. Sir W. Scott.
IMPECUNIOUS Im"pe*cu"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. im- not + pecunia money: cf. F. impécunieux.]
Defn: Not having money; habitually without money; poor.An impecunious creature. B. Jonson.
IMPEDANCEIm*ped"ance, n. [Impede + -ance.] (Elec.)
Defn: The apparent resistance in an electric circuit to the flow of an alternating current, analogous to the actual electrical resistance to a direct current, being the ratio of electromotive force to the current. It is equal to R2 + X2, where R = ohmic resistance, X = reactance. For an inductive circuit, X = 2pfL, where f = frequency and L = self-inductance; for a circuit with capacity X = 1 ÷ 2pfC, where C = capacity.
IMPEDEIm*pede", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Impeding.]Etym: [L. impedire, lit., to entangle the feet; pref. im- in + pes,pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Impeach.]
Defn: To hinder; to stop in progress; to obstruct; as, to impede theadvance of troops.Whatever hinders or impedes The action of the nobler will. Logfellow.
IMPEDIBLEIm*ped"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being impeded or hindered. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
IMPEDIMENTIm*ped"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. impedimentum: cf. F. impediment.]
Defn: That which impedes or hinders progress, motion, activity, oreffect.Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we marched on withoutimpediment. Shak.Impediment in speech, a defect which prevents distinct utterance.
Syn. — Hindrance; obstruction; obstacle; difficulty; incumbrance. — Impediment, Obstacle, Difficulty, Hindrance. An impediment literally strikes against our feet, checking our progress, and we remove it. An obstacle rises before us in our path, and we surmount or remove it. A difficulty sets before us something hard to be done, and we encounter it and overcome it. A hindrance holds us back for a time, but we break away from it. The eloquence of Demosthenes was to Philip of Macedon, a difficulty to be met with his best recources, ant obstacle to his own ambition, and an impedimen in his political career. C. J. Smith.
IMPEDIMENTIm*ped"i*ment, v. t.
Defn: To impede. [R.] Bp. Reynolds.
IMPEDIMENTAIm*ped`i*men"ta, n. pl. [L. See Impediment, Impede.]
Defn: Things which impede or hinder progress; incumbrances; baggage; specif. (Mil.),
Defn: the supply trains which must accompany an army.
On the plains they will have horses dragging travoises, dogs with travoises, women and children loaded with impedimenta. Julian Ralph.
IMPEDIMENTALIm*ped`i*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of the nature of an impediment; hindering; obstructing;impeditive.Things so impediental to success. G. H. Lewes.
IMPEDITEIm"pe*dite, a. Etym: [L. impeditus, p. p. See Impede.]
Defn: Hindered; obstructed. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
IMPEDITEIm"pe*dite, v. t.
Defn: To impede. [Obs.] Boyle.
IMPEDITIONIm"pe*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. impeditio.]
Defn: A hindering; a hindrance. [Obs.] Baxier.
IMPEDITIVEIm*ped"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. impéditif.]
Defn: Causing hindrance; impeding. "Cumbersome, and impeditive of motion." Bp. Hall.
IMPELIm*pel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Impelling.]Etym: [L. impellere; pref. im- in + pellere, pulsum, to drive. SeePulse a beat, and cf. Impulse.]
Defn: To drive or urge forward or on; to press on; to incite to action or motion in any way. The surge impelled me on a craggy coast. Pope.
Syn. — To instigate; incite; induce; influence; force; drive; urge; actuate; move.
IMPELLENTIm*pel"lent, a. Etym: [L. impellens, p. pr. of impellere.]
Defn: Having the quality of impelling.
IMPELLENTIm*pel"lent, n.
Defn: An impelling power or force. Glanvill.
IMPELLERIm*pel"ler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, impels.
IMPENIm*pen", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impenned and Impent (; p. pr. & vb. n.Impenning.]
Defn: To shut up or inclose, as in a pen. Feltham.
IMPEND Im*pend", v. t. Etym: [L. impend; pref. im- in + pend to weigh out, pay.]
Defn: To pay. [Obs.] Fabyan.
IMPENDIm*pend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Impended; p. pr. & vb. n. Impending.]Etym: [L. impendere; pref. im- in + pendere to hang. See Pendant.]
Defn: To hang over; to be suspended above; to threaten frome near at hand; to menace; to be imminent. See Imminent. Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends. Pope.
IMPENDENCE; IMPENDENCYIm*pend"ence, Im*pend"en*cy, n.
Defn: The state of impending; also, that which impends. "Impendence of volcanic cloud." Ruskin.
IMPENDENTIm*pend"ent, a. Etym: [L. impendens, p. pr. of impendere.]
Defn: Impending; threatening.Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall. Milton.
IMPENDINGIm*pend"ing, a.
Defn: Hanging over; overhanging; suspended so as to menace; imminet;threatening.An impending brow. Hawthorne.And nodding Ilion waits th' impending fall. Pope.
Syn.— Imminent; threatening. See Imminent.
IMPENETRABILITYIm*pen`e*tra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impénétrabilité.]
1. Quality of being impenetrable.
2. (Physics)
Defn: That property in virtue of which two portions of matter can not at the same time occupy the same portion of space.
3. Insusceptibility of intellectual or emotional impression; obtuseness; stupidity; coldness.
IMPENETRABLE Im*pen"e*tra*ble, a. Etym: [L. impenetrabilis; pref. im- not + penetrabilis penetrable: cf. F. impénétrable.]
1. Incapable of being penetrated or pierced; not admitting the passage of other bodies; not to be entered; impervious; as, an impenetrable shield. Highest woods impenetrable To star or sunlight. Milton.
2. (Physics)
Defn: Having the property of preventing any other substance from occupying the same space at the same time.
3. Inaccessible, as to knowledge, reason, sympathy, etc.; unimpressible; not to be moved by arguments or motives; as, an impenetrable mind, or heart. They will be credulous in all affairs of life, but impenetrable by a sermon of the gospel. Jer. Taylor.
IMPENETRABLENESSIm*pen"e*tra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being impenetrable; impenetrability.
IMPENETRABLYIm*pen"e*tra*bly, adv.
Defn: In an impenetrable manner or state; imperviously. "Impenetrably armed." Milton. "Impenetrably dull." Pope.
IMPENITENCEIm*pen"i*tence, n. Etym: [L. impenitentia: cf. F. impénitence.]
Defn: The condition of being impenitent; failure or refusal to repent; hardness of heart. He will advance from one degree of wickedness and impenitence to another. Rogers.
IMPENITENCYIm*pen"i*ten*cy, n.
Defn: Impenitence. Milton.
IMPENITENT Im*pen"i*tent, a. Etym: [L. impaenitens; pref. im- not + paenitens penitens: cf. F. impénitent. See Penitent.]
Defn: Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; of a hard heart. "They . . . died impenitent." Milton. "A careless and impenitent heart." Bp. Hall.
IMPENITENTIm*pen"i*tent, n.
Defn: One who is not penitent. [R.]
IMPENITENTLYIm*pen"i*tent*ly, adv.
Defn: Without repentance.
IMPENNATEIm*pen"nate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Characterized by short wings covered with feathers resembling scales, as the penguins. — n.
Defn: One of the Impennes.
IMPENNESIm*pen"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pref. im- not + penna feather.](Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of birds, including only the penguins, in which the wings are without quills, and not suited for flight.
IMPENNOUSIm*pen"nous a. Etym: [L. pref. im- not + penna wing.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having no wings, as some insects.
IMPEOPLEIm*peo"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impeopled; p. pr. & vb. n.Impeopling.] Etym: [See Empeople.]
Defn: To people; to give a population to. [Obs.]Thou hast helped to impeople hell. Beaumont.
IMPERANTIm"pe*rant, a. Etym: [L. imperans, p. pr. of imperare to command.]
Defn: Commanding. [R.] Baxter.
IMPERATEIm"pe*rate, a. Etym: [L. imperatus, p. p. of imperare to command.]
Defn: Done by express direction; not involuntary; communded. [Obs.]Those imperate acts, wherein we see the empire of the soul. Sir M.Hale.
IMPERATIVALIm*per`a*ti"val, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the imperative mood.
IMPERATIVEIm*per"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. imperativus, fr. imperare to command;pref. im- in + parare to make ready, prepare: cf. F. impératif. SeePerade, and cf. Empire.]
1. Expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders. The suit of kings are imperative. Bp. Hall.
2. Not to be avoided or evaded; obligatory; binding; compulsory; as, an imperative duty or order.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressive of commund, entreaty, advice, or exhortation; as, the imperative mood.
IMPERATIVEIm*per"a*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The imperative mood; also, a verb in the imperative mood.
IMPERATIVELYIm*per"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an imperative manner.
IMPERATORIm`pe*ra"tor, n. Etym: [L. See Emperor.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A commander; a leader; an emperor; — originally an appellation of honor by which Roman soldiers saluted their general after an important victory. Subsequently the title was conferred as a recognition of great military achievements by the senate, whence it carried wiht it some special privileges. After the downfall of the Republic it was assumed by Augustus and his successors, and came to have the meaning now attached to the word emperor.
IMPERATORIALIm*per`a*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. imperatorius.]
1. Commanding; imperative; authoritative.
2. Of or pertaining to the title or office of imperator. "Imperatorial laurels." C. Merivale.
IMPERATORIANIm*per`a*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: Imperial. [R.] Gauden.
IMPERATORYIm*per"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Imperative. [R.]
IMPERCEIVABLEIm`per*ceiv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Imperceptible. [R.] South.— Im`per*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n. Sharp.
IMPERCEIVEDIm`per*ceived", a.
Defn: Not perceived. [Obs.]
IMPERCEPTIBILITYIm`per*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being imperceptible.
IMPERCEPTIBLE Im`per*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + perceptible: cf. F. imperceptible.]
Defn: Not perceptible; not to be apprehended or cognized by thesouses; not discernible by the mind; not easily apprehended.Almost imperceptible to the touch. Dryden.Its operation is slow, and in some cases almost imperceptible. Burke.— Im`per*cep"ti*ble*ness, n.— Im`per*cep"ti*bly, adv.Their . . . subility and imperceptibleness. Sir M. Hale.
IMPERCEPTIONIm`per*cep"tion, n.
Defn: Want of perception.
IMPERCEPTIVEIm`per*cep"tive, a.
Defn: Unable to perceive.The imperceptive part of the soul. Dr. H. More.
IMPERCIPIENTIm`per*cip"i*ent, a.
Defn: Not perceiving, or not able to perceive. A. Baxter.
IMPERDIBILITYIm*per`di*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being imperdible. [Obs.] Derham.
IMPERDIBLEIm*per"di*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + L. perdere to destroy.]
Defn: Not destructible. [Obs.] — Im*per"di*bly, adv. [Obs.]
IMPERFECT Im*per"fect, a. Etym: [L. imperfectus: pref. im- not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See Perfect.]
1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part;deective; deficient.Something he left imperfect in the state. Shak.Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect. Shak.
2. Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successfulor normal activity.He . . . stammered like a child, or an amazed, imperfect person. Jer.Taylor.
3. Not fulfilling its design; not realizing an ideal; not conformed to a standard or rule; not satisfying the taste or conscience; esthetically or morally defective. Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created. Milton. Then say not man's imperfect, Heaven in fault; Say rather, man's as perfect as he ought. Pope. Imperfect arch, an arch of less than a semicircle; a skew arch. — Imperfect cadence (Mus.), one not ending with the tonic, but with the dominant or some other chord; one not giving complete rest; a half close. — Imperfect consonances (Mus.), chords like the third and sixth, whose ratios are less simple than those of the fifth and forth. — Imperfect flower (Bot.), a flower wanting either stamens or pistils. Gray. — Imperfect interval (Mus.), one a semitone less than perfect; as, an imperfect fifth. — Imperfect number (Math.), a number either greater or less than the sum of its several divisors; in the former case, it is called also a defective number; in the latter, an abundant number. — Imperfect obligations (Law), obligations as of charity or gratitude, which cannot be enforced by law. — Imperfect power (Math.), a number which can not be produced by taking any whole number or vulgar fraction, as a factor, the number of times indicated by the power; thus, 9 is a perfect square, but an imperfect cube. — Imperfect tense (Gram), a tense expressing past time and incomplete action.
IMPERFECTIm*per"fect, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the imperfect tense.
IMPERFECTIm*per"fect, v. t.
Defn: To make imperfect. [Obs.]
IMPERFECTIBILITYIm`per*fec`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being imperfectible. [R.]
IMPERFECTIBLEIm`per*fec"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Incapable of being mad perfect. [R.]
IMPERFECTIONIm`per*fec"tion, n. Etym: [L. imperfectio: cf. F. imperfection. SeeImperfect, a.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being imperfect; want of perfection; incompleteness; deficiency; fault or blemish. Sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. Shak.
Syn. — Defect; deficiency; incompleteness; fault; failing; weakness; frailty; foible; blemish; vice.
IMPERFECTNESSIm*per"fect*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being imperfect.
IMPERFORABLEIm*per"fo*ra*ble, a. Etym: [See Imperforate.]
Defn: Incapable of being perforated, or bored through.
IMPERFORATAIm*per"fo*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Imperforate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Foraminifera, including those in which the shell is not porous.
IMPERFORATE; IMPERFORATED Im*per"fo*rate, Im*per"fo*ra"ted, a. Etym: [L. pref. im- not + perforatus, p. p. of perforate to perforate. See Perforate.]
Defn: Not perforated; having no opening or aperture. Sir J. Banks.
IMPERFORATIONIm*per`fo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. imperforation.]
Defn: The state of being without perforation.
IMPERIALIm*pe"ri*al, a. Etym: [OE. emperial, OF. emperial, F. impérial, fr.L. imperialis, fr. imperium command, sovereignty, empire. SeeEmpire.]
1. Of or pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict. The last That wore the imperial diadem of Rome. Shak.
2. Belonging to, or suitable to, supreme authority, or one who wields it; royal; sovereign; supreme. "The imperial democracy of Athens." Mitford. Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns With an imperial voice. Shak. To tame the proud, the fetter'd slave to free, These are imperial arts, and worthy thee. Dryden. He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E. Everett.
3. Of superior or unusual size or excellence; as, imperial paper;imperial tea, etc. Imperial bushel, gallon, etc. See Bushel, Gallon,etc.— Imperial chamber, the, the sovereign court of the old Germanempire.— Imperial city, under the first German empire, a city having nohead but the emperor.— Imperial diet, an assembly of all the states of the Germanempire.— Imperial drill. (Manuf.) See under 8th Drill.— Imperial eagle. (Zoöl.) See Eagle.— Imperial green. See Paris green, under Green.— Imperial guard, the royal guard instituted by Napoleon I.— Imperial weights and measures, the standards legalized by theBritish Parliament.
IMPERIALIm*pe"ri*al, n. Etym: [F. impériale: cf. Sp. imperial.]
1. The tuft of hair on a man's lower lip and chin; — so called from the style of beard of Napoleon III.
2. An outside seat on a diligence. T. Hughes.
3. A luggage case on the top of a coach. Simmonds.
4. Anything of unusual size or excellence, as a large decanter, a kind of large photograph, a large sheet of drowing, printing, or writing paper, etc.
5. A gold coin of Russia worth ten rubles, or about eight dollars. McElrath.
6. A kind of fine cloth brought into England from Greece. or other Eastern countries, in the Middle Ages.
IMPERIALISMIm*pe"ri*al*ism, n.
Defn: The power or character of an emperor; imperial authority; thespirit of empire.Roman imperialism had divided the world. C. H. Pearson.
IMPERIALISTIm*pe"ri*al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impérialiste.]
Defn: One who serves an emperor; one who favors imperialism.
IMPERIALITYIm*pe`ri*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Imperialities (.
1. Imperial power.
2. An imperial right or privilegs. See Royalty. The late empress having, by ukases of grace, relinquished her imperialities on the private mines, viz., the tenths of the copper, iron, silver and gold. W. Tooke.
IMPERIALIZEIm*pe"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imperialized; p. pr. & vb. n.Imperializing.]
Defn: To invest with imperial authority, character, or style; to bring to the form of an empire. Fuller.
IMPERIALLYIm*pe"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an imperial manner.
IMPERIALLYIm*pe"ri*al*ly, n.
Defn: Imperial power. [R.] Sheldon.
IMPERIL Im*per"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imperiled or Imperilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Imperiling or Imperilling.]
Defn: To bring into peril; to endanger.
IMPERILMENTIm*per"il*ment, n.
Defn: The act of imperiling, or the state of being imperiled.
IMPERIOUSIm*pe"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. imperiosus: cf. F. impérieux. SeeImperial.]
1. Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [Obs.] "A vast and imperious mind." Tilloison. Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, Imperious. Shak.
2. Haughly; arrogant; overbearing; as, an imperious tyrant; an imperious manner. This imperious man will work us all From princes into pages. Shak. His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. Macaulay.
3. Imperative; urgent; compelling. Imperious need, which can not be withstood. Dryden.
Syn. — Dictatorial; haughty; domineering; overbearing; lordly; tyrannical; despotic; arrogant; imperative; authoritative; commanding; pressing. — Imperious, Lordly, Domineering. One who is imperious exercises his authority in a manner highly offensive for its spirit and tone; one who is lordly assumes a lofty air in order to display his importance; one who is domineering gives orders in a way to make other feel their inferiority.
IMPERIOUSLYIm*pe"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an imperious manner.
IMPERIOUSNESSIm*pe"ri*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being imperious; arrogance;haughtiness.Imperiousness and severity is but an ill way of treating men who havereason of their own to guide them. Locke.
IMPERISHABILITYIm*per`ish*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being imperishable: indstructibility. "The imperishability of the universe." Milman.
IMPERISHABLE Im*per"ish*a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + perishable: cf. F. impérissable.]
Defn: Not perisha ble; not subject to decay; indestructible;enduringpermanently; as, an imperishable monument; imperishablerenown.— Im*per"ish*a*ble*ness, n.— Im*per"ish*a*bly, adv.
IMPERIUMIm*pe"ri*um, n.; pl. Imperia (#). [L. See Empire.]
1. Supreme power; absolute dominion; empire.
2. (Law) The right to command, which includes the right to employ the force of the state to enforce the laws. It is one of the principal attributes of the executive power.
IMPERIWIGGEDIm*per"i"wigged, a.
Defn: Wearing a periwig.
IMPERMANENCE; IMPERMANENCYIm*per"ma*nence, Im*per"ma*nen*cy, n.
Defn: Want of permanence.
IMPERMANENTIm*per"ma*nent, a.
Defn: Not permanent.
IMPERMEABILITY Im*per`me*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Pref. im- not + permeability: cf. F. imperméabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being impermeable.
IMPERMEABLE Im*per"me*a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + permeable: cf. F. imperméable, L. impermeabilis.]
Defn: Not permeable; not permitting passage, as of a fluid. through its substance; impervious; impenetrable; as, India rubber is impermeable to water and to air. — Im*per"me*a*ble*ness, n. — Im*per"me*a*bly, adv.
IMPERMISSIBLEIm`per*mis"si*ble, a.
Defn: Not permissible.
IMPERSCRUTABLEIm`per*scru"ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. imperscrutabilis.]
Defn: Not capable of being searched out; inscrutable. [Obs.] —Im`per*scru"ta*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
IMPERSEVERANTIm`per*sev"er*ant, a.
Defn: Not persevering; fickle; thoughtless. [Obs.]
IMPERSONAL Im*per"son*al, a. Etym: [L. impersonalis; pref. im- not + personalis personal: cf. F. impersonnel. See Personal.]
Defn: Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality. An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. Sir J. Stephen. Impersonal verb (Gram.), a verb used with an indeterminate subject, commonly, in English, with the impersonal pronoun it; as, it rains; it snows; methinks (it seems to me). Many verbs which are not strictly impersonal are often used impersonally; as, it goes well with him.
IMPERSONALIm*per"son*al, n.
Defn: That which wants personality; specifically (Gram.), an impersonal verb.
IMPERSONALITYIm*per`son*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being impersonal; want or absence of personality.
IMPERSONALLYIm*per"son*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an impersonal manner.
IMPERSONATEIm*per"son*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impersonated; p. pr. & vb. n.Impersonating.]
1. To invest with personality; to endow with the form of a living being.
2. To ascribe the qualities of a person to; to personify.
3. To assume, or to represent, the person or character of; to personate; as, he impersonated Macbeth. Benedict impersonated his age. Milman.
IMPERSONATION; IMPERSONIFICATIONIm*per`son*a"tion, Im`per*son`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of impersonating; personification; investment with personality; representation in a personal form.
IMPERSONATORIm*per"son*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who impersonates; an actor; a mimic.
IMPERSPICUITYIm*per`spi*cu"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of perspicuity or clearness; vaguness; ambiguity.
IMPERSPICUOUSIm`per*spic"u*ous, a.
Defn: Not perspicuous; not clear; obscure; vague; ambeguous.
IMPERSUADABLEIm`per*suad"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. Impersuasible.]
Defn: Not to be persuaded; obstinate; unyielding; impersuasible.— Im`per*suad"a*ble*ness, n.
IMPERSUASIBLE Im`per*sua"si*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + persuasible: cf. OF. impersuasible.]
Defn: Not persuasible; not to be moved by persuasion; inflexible; impersuadable. Dr. H. More. — Im`per*sua`si*bil"i*ty, n.
IMPERTINENCEIm*per"ti*nence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impertinence. See Impertinent.]
1. The condition or quality of being impertnent; absence of pertinence, or of adaptedness; irrelevance; unfitness.
2. Conduct or language unbecoming the person, the society, or the circumstances; rudeness; incivility. We should avoid the vexation and impertinence of pedants who affect to talk in a language not to be understood. Swift.
3. That which is impertinent; a thing out of place, or of no value. There are many subtile impertinences learned in schools. Watts.
IMPERTINENCYIm*per"ti*nen*cy, n.
Defn: Impertinence. [R.]O, matter and impertinency mixed! Reason in madness! Shak.
IMPERTINENT Im*per"ti*nent, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. impertinens, -entis; pref. im- not + pertinens. See Pertinent.]
1. Not pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable. Things that are impertinent to us. Tillotson. How impertinent that grief was which served no end! Jer. Taylor.
2. Contrary to, or offending against, the rules of propriety or good breeding; guilty of, or prone to, rude, unbecoming, or uncivil words or actions; as, an impertient coxcomb; an impertient remark.
3. Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.
Syn. — Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly; meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent. — Impertinent, Officious, Rude. A person is officious who obtrudes his offices or assistance where they are not needed; he is impertinent when he intermeddles in things with which he has no concern. The former shows a want of tact, the latter a want of breeding, or, more commonly, a spirit of sheer impudence. A person is rude when he violates the proprieties of social life either from ignorance or wantonness. "An impertinent man will ask questions for the mere grafication of curiosity; a rude man will burst into the room of another, or push against his person, inviolant of all decorum; one who is officious is quite as unfortunate as he is troublesome; when he strives to serve, he has the misfortune to annoy." Crabb. See Impudence, and Insolent.
IMPERTINENTIm*per"ti*nent, n.
Defn: An impertinent person. [R.]
IMPERTINENTLYIm*per"ti*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an impertinent manner. "Not to betray myself impertinently."B. Jonson.
IMPERTRANSIBILITYIm`per*tran`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being impertransible. [R.]
IMPERTRANSIBLE Im`per*tran"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. pref. im- not + pertransire to go through. See Per- and Transient.]
Defn: Incapable of being passed through. [R.]
IMPERTURBABILITYIm`per*turb`a*bil"i*ty, n.