Defn: The state or quality of being imperturbable. [1913 Webster]
IMPERTURBABLE Im`per*turb"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. imperturbabilis; pref. im- not + perturbare to disturb: cf. F. imperturbable. See Perture.]
Defn: Incapable of being disturbed or disconcerted; as, imperturbable gravity.
IMPERTURBABLYIm`per*turb"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an imperturbable manner; calmly. C. Bronté.
IMPERTURBATIONIm*per`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. imperturbatio.]
Defn: Freedom from agitation of mind; calmness; quietude. W. Montagu.
IMPERTURBEDIm`per*turbed", a.
Defn: Not perturbed.
IMPERVIABILITYIm*per`vi*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being imperviable.
IMPERVIABLEIm*per"vi*a*ble, a.
Defn: Not pervious; impervious. [R.] — Im*per"vi*a*ble*ness, n. [R.]
IMPERVIOUS Im*per"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. impervius; pref. im- not + per through + via way. See Voyage.]
Defn: Not pervious; not admitting of entrance or passage through; as,a substance impervious to water or air.This gulf impassable, impervious. Milton.The minds of these zealots were absolutely impervious. Macaulay.
Syn.— Impassable; pathless; impenetrable; imperviable; impermeable.— Im*per"vi*ous*ly, adv.— Im*per"vi*ous*ness, n.
IMPERYIm"per*y, n.
Defn: Empery. [Archaic] Joye.
IMPESTIm*pest", v. t.
Defn: To affict with pestilence; to infect, as with plague. [Obs.]
IMPESTERIm*pes"ter, v. t.
Defn: See Pester. [Obs.]
IMPETIGINOUSIm`pe*tig"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. impetiginous: cf. F. impétigineux.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, impetigo.
IMPETIGOIm`pe*ti"go, n. Etym: [L., fr. impetere to attack.] (Med.)
Defn: A cutaneous, pustular eruption, not attended with fever; usually, a kind of eczema with pustulation.
IMPETRABLEIm"pe*tra*ble a. Etym: [L. impetrabilis: cf. F. impétrable. SeeImpetrate.]
Defn: Capable of being obtained or moved by petition. [Obs.] Bailey.
IMPETRATE Im"pe*trate, a. Etym: [L. impetratus, p. p. of impetrare to obtain; pref. im- in + patrare to bring to pass.]
Defn: Obtained by entreaty. [Obs.] Ld. Herbert.
IMPETRATEIm"pe*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impetrated; p. pr. & vb. n.Impetrating.]
Defn: To obtain by request or entreaty. Usher.
IMPETRATIONIm`pe*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. impetratio: cf. F. impétration.]
1. The act of impetrating, or obtaining by petition or entreaty. [Obs.] In way of impertation procuring the removal or allevation of our crosses. Barrow.
2. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: The obtaining of benefice from Rome by solicitation, which benefice belonged to the disposal of the king or other lay patron of the realm.
IMPETRATIVEIm"pe*tra*tive, a. Etym: [L. impetrativus obtained by entreaty.]
Defn: Of the nature of impetration; getting, or tending to get, by entreaty. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
IMPETRATORYIm"pe*tra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing or expressing entreaty. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
IMPETUOSITYIm*pet`u*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impétuosité.]
1. The condition or quality of being impetuous; fury; violence.
2. Vehemence, or furiousnes of temper. Shak.
IMPETUOUSIm*pet"u*ous, a. Etym: [F. impetueux, L. impetuosus. See Impetus.]
1. Rushing with force and violence; moving with impetus; furious; forcible; violent; as, an impetuous wind; an impetuous torrent. Went pouring forward with impetuous speed. Byron.
2. Vehement in feeling; hasty; passionate; violent; as, a man ofimpetuous temper.The people, on their holidays, Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable.Milton.
Syn.— Forcible; rapid; hasty; precipitate; furious; boisterous;violent; raging; fierce; passionate.— Im*pet"u*ous*ly, adv.— Im*pet"u*ous*ness, n.
IMPETUS Im"pe*tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. impetere to rush upon, attack; pref. im- in + petere to fall upon, seek. See Petition.]
1. A property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its weight and its motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled; momentum.
Note: Momentum is the technical term, impetus its popular equivalent, yet differing from it as applied commonly to bodies moving or moved suddenly or violently, and indicating the origin and intensity of the motion, rather than its quantity or effectiveness.
2. Fig.: Impulse; incentive; vigor; force. Buckle.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: The aititude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece.
IMPEYAN PHEASANT Im"pey*an pheas"ant. Etym: [From Lady Impey, who attempted to naturalize the bird in England.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Indian crested pheasant of the genus Lophophorus. Several species are known. Called also monaul, monal.
Note: They are remarkable for the bright color and brilliant matallic hues of their plumage. The best known species (L. Impeyanus) has the neck of a brilliant metallic red, changing to golden yellow in certain lights.
IMPHEEIm"phee, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The African sugar cane (Holcus saccharatus), — resembling the sorghum, or Chinese sugar cane.
IMPIIm"pi (im"pi), n. [Zulu.]
Defn: A body of Kaffir warriors; a body of native armed men. [SouthAfrica]
As early as 1862 he crossed assagais with and defeated a Matabiliimpi (war band).James Bryce.
IMPICTUREDIm*pic"tured, a.
Defn: Pictured; impressed. [Obs.] Spenser.
IMPIERCEIm*pierce", v. t. Etym: [Pref. im- in + pierce. Cf. Empierce.]
Defn: To pierce; to penetrate. [Obs.] Drayton.
IMPIERCEABLEIm*pierce"a*ble a.
Defn: Not capable of being pierced; impenetrable. [Obs.] Spenser.
IMPIETY Im*pi"e*ty, n.; pl. Impieties (. Etym: [L. impietas, fr. impius impious; cf. F. impiété. See Impious, Piety.]
1. The quality of being impious; want of piety; irreverence toward the Supreme Being; ungodliness; wickedness.
2. An impious act; an act of wickednes. Those impieties for the which they are now visited. Shak.
Syn. — Ungodliness; irreligion; unrighteousness; sinfulness; profaneness; wickedness; godlessness.
IMPIGNORATE Im*pig"no*rate, v. t. Etym: [LL. impignoratus, p. pl of impignorare to pawn. See Pignoration.]
Defn: To pledge or pawn. [Obs.] Laing.
IMPIGNORATIONIm*pig`no*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. impignoratio: cf. F. impignoration.]
Defn: The act of pawning or pledging; the state of being pawned.[Obs.] Bailey.
IMPINGImp"ing, n. Etym: [See Imp to graft.]
1. The act or process of grafting or mending. [Archaic]
2. (Falconry)
Defn: The process of repairing broken feathers or a deficient wing.
IMPINGEIm*pinge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impinged; p. pr. & vb. n. Impinging.]Etym: [L. impingere; pref. im- in + pangere to fix, strike; prob.akin to pacisci to agree, contract. See Pact, and cf. Impact.]
Defn: To fall or dash against; to touch upon; to strike; to hit; to ciash with; — with on or upon. The cause of reflection is not the impinging of light on the solid or impervious parts of bodies. Sir I. Newton. But, in the present order of things, not to be employed without impinging on God's justice. Bp. Warburton.
IMPINGEMENTIm*pinge"ment, n.
Defn: The act of impinging.
IMPINGENTIm*pin"gent, a. Etym: [L. impingens, p. pr.]
Defn: Striking against or upon.
IMPINGUATE Im*pin"guate, v. t. Etym: [L. impinguatus, p. p. of impinguare to fatten; pref. im- in + pinguis fat.]
Defn: To fatten; to make fat. [Obs.] Bacon.
IMPINGUATIONIm`pin*gua"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making fat, or the state of being fat or fattened.[Obs.]
IMPIOUSIm"pi*ous, a. Etym: [L. impius; pref. im- not + pius piou. SeePious.]
Defn: Not pious; wanting piety; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; profane; wanting in reverence for the Supreme Being; as, an impious deed; impious language. When vice prevails, and impious men bear away, The post of honor is a private station. Addison.
Syn. — Impious, Irreligious, Profane. Irreligious is negative, impious and profane are positive. An indifferent man may be irreligious; a profane man is irreverent in speech and conduct; an impious man is wickedly and boldly defiant in the strongest sense. Profane also has the milder sense of secular. C. J. Smith. — Im"pi*ous*ly, adv. — Im"pi*ous*ness, n.
IMPIREIm"pire, n.
Defn: See Umpire. [Obs.] Huloet.
IMPISHImp"ish, a.
Defn: Having the qualities, or showing the characteristics, of an imp.
IMPISHLYImp"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an imp.
IMPITEOUSIm*pit"e*ous, a.
Defn: Pitiless; cruel. [Obs.]
IMPLACABILITY Im*pla`ca*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. implacabilitas: cf. F. implacabilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being implacable.
IMPLACABLE Im*pla"ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. implacabilis; pref. im- not + placabilis: cf. F. implacable. See Placable.]
1. Not placable; not to be appeased; incapable of being pacified; inexorable; as, an implacable prince. I see thou art implacable. Milton. An object of implacable enmity. Macaulay.
2. Incapable of ebign relieved or assuaged; inextinguishable. [R.]O! how I burn with implacable fire. Spenser.Which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan.Milton.
Syn. — Unappeasable; inexorable; irreconcilable; unrelenting; relentless; unyielding.
IMPLACABLENESSIm*pla"ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being implacable; implacability.
IMPLACABLYIm*pla"ca*bly, adv.
Defn: In an implacable manner.
IMPLACENTALIm`pla*cen"tal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without a placenta, as marsupials and monotremes.— n.
Defn: A mammal having no placenta.
IMPLACENTALIAIm`pla*cen*ta"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See In- not, and Placental.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A primary division of the Mammalia, including the monotremes and marsupials, in which no placenta is formed.
IMPLANTIm*plant" v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Implanting.]Etym: [Pref. im- in + plant: cf. F. implanter.]
Defn: To plant, or infix, for the purpose of growth; to fix deeply; to instill; to inculate; to introduce; as, to implant the seeds of virtue, or the principles of knowledge, in the minds of youth. Minds well implanted with solid . . . breeding. Milton.
IMPLANTATIONIm`plan*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. implantation.]
Defn: The act or process of implantating.
IMPLATEIm*plate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implated; p. pr. & vb. n. Implating.]
Defn: To cover with plates; to sheathe; as, to implate a ship with iron.
IMPLAUSIBILITYIm*plau`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of plausibility; the quality of being implausible.
IMPLAUSIBLE Im*plau"si*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + plausible: cf. F. implausible.]
Defn: Not plausible; not wearing the appearance of truth orcredibility, and not likely to be believed. "Implausible harangues."Swift.— Im*plau"si*ble*ness, n.— Im*plau"si*bly, adv.
IMPLEACHIm*pleach", v. t.
Defn: To pleach; to interweave. [Obs.] Shak.
IMPLEADIm*plead", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impleaded; p. pr. & vb. n.Impleading.] Etym: [Cf. Emplead.] (Law)
Defn: To institute and prosecute a suit against, in court; to sue or prosecute at law; hence, to accuse; to impeach.
IMPLEADIm*plead", v. i.
Defn: To sue at law.
IMPLEADABLEIm*plead"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not admitting excuse, evasion, or plea; rigorous. [R.] T.Adams.
IMPLEADERIm*plead"er, n. (Law)
Defn: One who prosecutes or sues another.
IMPLEASINGIm*pleas"ing (, a.
Defn: Unpleasing; displeasing. [Obs.] Overbury.
IMPLEDGEIm*pledge", v. t.
Defn: To pledge. Sir W. Scott.
IMPLEMENT Im"ple*ment, n. Etym: [LL. implementum accomplishment, fr. L. implere, impletum, to fill up, finish, complete; pref. im- in + plere to fill. The word was perh. confuse with OF. empleier, emploier, to employ, F. employer, whence E. employ. See Plenty.]
Defn: That which fulfills or supplies a want or use; esp., an instrument, toll, or utensil, as supplying a requisite to an end; as, the implements of trade, of husbandry, or of war. Genius must have talent as its complement and implement. Coleridge.
IMPLEMENTIm"ple*ment, v. t.
1. To accomplish; to fulfill. [R.] Revenge . . . executed and implemented by the hand of Vanbeest Brown. Sir W. Scott.
2. To provide with an implement or implements; to cause to be fulfilled, satisfied, or carried out, by means of an implement or implements. The chief mechanical requisites of the barometer are implemented in such an instrument as the following. Nichol.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: To fulfill or perform, as a contract or an engagement.
IMPLEMENTALIm`ple*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, implements or their use; mechanical.
IMPLETIONIm*ple"tion, n. Etym: [L. impletio. See Implement.]
1. The act of filling, or the state of being full. Sir T. Browne.
2. That which fills up; filling. Coleridge.
IMPLEX Im"plex, a. Etym: [L. implexus, p. p. of implectere to infold; pref. im- in + plectere to plait: cf. F implexe.]
Defn: Intricate; entangled; complicated; complex. The fable of every poem is . . . simple or implex. it is called simple when there is no change of fortune in it; implex, when the fortune of the chief actor changes from bad to good, or from good to bad. Addison.
IMPLEXIONIm*plex"ion, n. Etym: [L. implexio.]
Defn: Act of involving, or state of being involved; involution.
IMPLIABLEIm*pli"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not pliable; inflexible; inyielding.
IMPLICATEIm"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implicated; p. pr. & vb. n.Implicating.] Etym: [L. implicatus, p. p. of implicare to involve;pref. im- in + plicare to fold. See Employ, Ply, and cf. Imply,Implicit.]
1. To infold; to fold together; to interweave. The meeting boughs and implicated leaves. Shelley.
2. To bring into connection with; to involve; to connect; — applied to persons, in an unfavorable sense; as, the evidence implicates many in this conspiracy; to be implicated in a crime, a discreditable transaction, a fault, etc.
IMPLICATIONIm`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. implicatio: cf. F. implication.]
1. The act of implicating, or the state of being implicated. Three principal causes of firmness are. the grossness, the quiet contact, and the implication of component parts. Boyle.
2. An implying, or that which is implied, but not expressed; an inference, or something which may fairly be understood, though not expressed in words. Whatever things, therefore, it was asserted that the king might do, it was a necessary implication that there were other things which he could not do. Hallam.
IMPLICATIVEIm"pli*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to implicate.
IMPLICATIVELYIm"pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By implication. Sir G. Buck.
IMPLICIT Im*plic"it, a. Etym: [L. implicitus, p. p. of implicare to entwine, entangle, attach closely: cf. F. implicite. See Implicate.]
1. Infolded; entangled; complicated; involved. [Obs.] Milton. In his woolly fleece I cling implicit. Pope.
2. Tacitly comprised; fairly to be understood, though not expressed in words; implied; as, an implicit contract or agreement. South.
3. Resting on another; trusting in the word or authority of another, without doubt or reserve; unquestioning; complete; as, implicit confidence; implicit obedience. Back again to implicit faith I fall. Donne. Implicit function. (Math.) See under Function.
IMPLICITLYIm*plic"it*ly, adv.
1. In an implicit manner; without reserve; with unreserved confidence. Not to dispute the methods of his providence, but humbly and implicitly to acquiesce in and adore them. Atterbury.
2. By implication; impliedly; as, to deny the providence of God is implicitly to deny his existence. Bentley.
IMPLICITNESSIm*plic"it*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being implicit.
IMPLICITYIm*plic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Implicitness. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
IMPLIEDIm*plied", a.
Defn: Virtually involved or included; involved in substance; inferential; tacitly conceded; — the correlative of express, or expressed. See Imply.
IMPLIEDLYIm*pli"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By implication or inference. Bp. Montagu.
IMPLODEDIm*plod"ed, a. (Phon.)
Defn: Formed by implosion. Ellis.
IMPLODENTIm*plod"ent, n. (Phon.)
Defn: An implosive sound. Ellis.
IMPLORATIONIm`plo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. imploratio: cf. OF. imploration. SeeImplore.]
Defn: The act of imploring; earnest supplication. Bp. Hall.
IMPLORATORIm"plo*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who implores. [Obs.]Mere implorators of unholy suits. Shak.
IMPLORATORYIm*plor"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Supplicatory; entreating. [R.] Carlyle.
IMPLOREIm*plore", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implored; p. pr. & vb. n. Imploring.]Etym: [L. implorare; pref. im- in + plorare to cry aloud. SeeDeplore.]
Defn: To call upon, or for, in supplication; to beseech; to prey to, or for, earnestly; to petition with urency; to entreat; to beg; — followed directly by the word expressing the thing sought, or the person from whom it is sought. Imploring all the gods that reign above. Pope. I kneel, and then implore her blessing. Shak.
Syn. — To beseech; supplicate; crave; entreat; beg; solicit; petition; prey; request; adjure. See Beseech.
IMPLOREIm*plore", v. i.
Defn: To entreat; to beg; to prey.
IMPLOREIm*plore", n.
Defn: Imploration. [Obs.] Spencer.
IMPLORERIm*plor"er, n.
Defn: One who implores.
IMPLORINGIm*plor"ing, a.
Defn: That implores; beseeching; entreating.— Im*plor"ing*ly, adv.
IMPLOSION Im*plo"sion, n. Etym: [Formed by substitution of pref. im- in for pref. ex- in explosion.]
1. A burstion inwards, as of a vessel from which the air has been exhausted; — contrasted with explosion.
2. (Phon.)
Defn: A sudden compression of the air in the mouth, simultaneously with and affecting the sound made by the closure of the organs in uttering p, t, or k, at the end of a syllable (see Guide to Pronunciation, §§159, 189); also, a similar compression made by an upward thrust of the larynx without any accompanying explosive action, as in the peculiar sound of b, d, and g, heard in Southern Germany. H. Sweet.
IMPLOSIVEIm*plo"sive, a. (Phon.)
Defn: Formed by implosion.— n.
Defn: An implosive sound, an implodent.— Im*plo"sive*ly, adv. H. Sweet.
IMPLUMEDIm*plumed", a.
Defn: Not plumed; without plumes or feathers; featherless. [R.]Drayton.
IMPLUNGEIm*plunge", v. t.
Defn: To plunge. Fuller.
IMPLUVIUM Im*plu"vi*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. impluere to rain into; pref. im- in + pluere to rain.] (Arch.)
Defn: In Roman dwellings, a cistern or tank, set in the atrium or peristyle to recieve the water from the roof, by means of the compluvium; generally made ornamental with flowers and works of art around its birm.
IMPLYIm*ply", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implied; p. pr. & vb. n. Implying.]Etym: [From the same source as employ. See Employ, Ply, and cf.Implicate, Apply.]
1. To infold or involve; to wrap up. [Obs.] "His head in curls implied." Chapman.
2. To involve in substance or essence, or by fair inference, or by construction of law, when not include virtually; as, war implies fighting. Where a mulicious act is proved, a mulicious intention is implied. Bp. Sherlock. When a man employs a laborer to work for him, . . . the act of hiring implies an obligation and a promise that he shall pay him a reasonable reward for his services. Blackstone.
3. To refer, ascribe, or attribute. [Obs.] Whence might this distaste arise If [from] neither your perverse and peevish will. To which I most imply it. J. Webster.
Syn. — To involve; include; comprise; import; mean; denote; signify; betoken. See Involve.
IMPOISONIm*poi"son, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Empoison.]
Defn: To poison; to imbitter; to impair.
IMPOISONERIm*poi"son*er, n.
Defn: A poisoner. [Obs.] Beau. & Fi.
IMPOISONMENTIm*poi"son*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. Empoisonment.]
Defn: The act of poisoning or impoisoning. [Obs.] Pope.
IMPOLARILY; IMPOLARLYIm*po"lar*i*ly, Im*po"lar*ly, adv.
Defn: Not according to or in, the direction of the poles. [Obs.] SirT. Browne.
IMPOLICYIm*pol"i*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of being impolitic; inexpedience; unsuitableness to the end proposed; bads policy; as, the impolicy of fraud. Bp. Horsley.
IMPOLITE Im`po*lite", a. Etym: [L. impolitus unpolishied, pref. im- not + politus, p. p. of polire to polish, refine. See Polite.]
Defn: Not polite; not of polished manners; wanting in good manners;discourteous; uncivil; rude.— Im`po*lite"ly, adv.— Im`po*lite"ness, n.
IMPOLITICIm*pol"i*tic, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + politic; cf. F. impolitique.]
Defn: Not politic; contrary to, or wanting in, policy; unwise;imprudent; indiscreet; inexpedient; as, an impolitic ruler, law, ormeasure.The most unjust and impolitic of all things, unequal taxation. Burke.
Syn.— Indiscreet; inexpedient; undiplomatic.
IMPOLITICALIm`po*lit"i*cal, a.
Defn: Impolitic. [Obs.] — Im`po*lit"i*cal*ly, adv. [Obs.] Bacon.
IMPOLITICLYIm*pol"i*tic*ly, adv.
Defn: In an impolitic manner.
IMPOLITICNESSIm*pol"i*tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being impolitic.
IMPONDERABILITYIm*pon`der*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. impondérabilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being imponderable; imponderableness.
IMPONDERABLE Im*pon"der*a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + ponderable: cf. F. impondérable.]
Defn: Not ponderable; without sensible or appreciable weight; incapable of being weighed.
IMPONDERABLEIm*pon"der*a*ble, n. (Physics)
Defn: An imponderable substance or body; specifically, in the plural, a name formely applied to heat, light, electricity, and magnetism, regarded as subtile flyids destitute of weight but in modern science little used.
IMPONDERABLENESSIm*pon"der*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being imponderable.
IMPONDEROUSIm*pon"der*ous, a.
Defn: Imponderable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.— Im*pon"der*ous*ness, n. [Obs.]
IMPONE Im*pone", v. t. Etym: [L. imponere, impositum, to place upon; pref. im- in + ponere to place. See Position.]
Defn: To stake; to wager; to pledge. [Obs.] Against the which he has imponed, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards. Shak.
IMPOOFOIm*poo"fo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The eland. [Written also impoofoo.]
IMPOONIm*poon", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The duykerbok.
IMPOORIm*poor", v. t.
Defn: To impoverish. [Obs.]
IMPOROSITY Im`po*ros"i*ty, n. Etym: [Perf. im- not + porosity: cf. F. imporosité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being imporous; want of porosity; compactness. "The . . . imporosity betwixt the tangible parts." Bacon.
IMPOROUSIm*por"ous, a.
Defn: Destitute of pores; very close or compact in texture; solid.Sir T. Browne.
IMPORTIm*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imported; p. pr. & vb. n. Importing.]Etym: [L. importare to bring in, to occasion, to cause; pref. im- in+ portare to bear. Sense 3 comes through F. importer, from the Latin.See Port demeanor.]
1. To bring in from abroad; to introduce from without; especially, to bring (wares or merchandise) into a place or country from a foreign country, in the transactions of commerce; — opposed to export. We import teas from China, coffee from Brasil, etc.
2. To carry or include, as meaning or intention; to imply; to signify. Every petition . . . doth . . . always import a multitude of speakers together. Hooker.
3. To be of importance or consequence to; to have a bearing on; toconcern.I have a motion much imports your good. Shak.If I endure it, what imports it you Dryden.
Syn. — To denote; mean; sighify; imply; indicate; betoken; interest; concern.
IMPORTIm*port", v. i.
Defn: To signify; to purport; to be of moment. "For that . . . importeth to the work." Bacon.
IMPORTIm"port, n.
1. Merchandise imported, or brought into a country from without its boundaries; — generally in the plural, opposed to exports. I take the imports from, and not the exports to, these conquests, as the measure of these advantages which we derived from them. Burke.
2. That which a word, phrase, or document contains as its signification or intention or interpretation of a word, action, event, and the like.
3. Importance; weight; consequence. Most serious design, and the great import. Shak.
IMPORTABLEIm*port"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. importable. See Import.]
Defn: Capable of being imported.
IMPORTABLE Im*port"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. importabilis; pref. im- not + portabilis bearable: cf. OF. importable. See Portable.]
Defn: Not to be endured; insupportable; intolerable. [Obs.] Chaucer.— Im*port"a*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
IMPORTANCEIm*por"tance, n. Etym: [F. importance. See Important.]
1. The quality or state of being important; consequence; weight;moment; significance.Thy own importance know, Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.Pope.
2. Subject; matter. [Obs.] Upon importance of so slight and trivial a nature. Shak.
3. Import; meaning; significance. [Obs.] The wisest beholder could not say if the importance were joy or sorrow. Shak.
4. Importunity; solicitation. [Obs.] At our importance hither is he come. Shak.
IMPORTANCYIm*por"tan*cy, n.
Defn: Importance; significance; consequence; that which is important.[Obs.] Shak. "Careful to conceal importancies." Fuller.
IMPORTANTIm*por"tant, a. Etym: [F. important. See Import, v. t.]
1. Full of, or burdened by, import; charged with great interests; restless; anxious. [Obs.] Thou hast strength as much As serves to execute a mind very important. Chapman.
2. Carrying or possessing weight or consequence; of valuable content or bearing; significant; weighty. Things small as nothing . . . He makes important. Shak.
3. Bearing on; forcible; driving. [Obs.] He fiercely at him flew, And with important outrage him assailed. Spenser.
4. Importunate; pressing; urgent. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. — Weighty; momentous; significant; essential; necessary; considerable; influential; serious.
IMPORTANTLYIm*por"tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In an important manner.
IMPORTATIONIm`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. importation. See Import, v. t.]
1. The act of carrying, conveying, or delivering. [R.]
2. The act or practice of importing, or bringing into a country or state; — opposed to exportation.
3. That which is imported; commodities or wares introduced into a country from abroad.
IMPORTERIm*port"er, n.
Defn: One who imports; the merchant who brings goods into a country or state; — opposed to exporter.
IMPORTINGIm*port"ing, a.
Defn: Full of meaning. [Obs.] Shak.
IMPORTLESSIm*port"less, a.
Defn: Void of meaning. [Obs.] Shak.
IMPORTUNABLEIm*por"tu*na*ble, a.
Defn: Heavy; insupportable. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
IMPORTUNACYIm*por"tu*na*cy, n. Etym: [From Importunate.]
Defn: The quality of being importunate; importunateness.
IMPORTUNATEIm*por"tu*nate, a. Etym: [See Importune.]
1. Troublesomely urgent; unreasonably solicitous; overpressing in request or demand; urgent; teasing; as, an impotunate petitioner, curiosity. Whewell.
2. Hard to be borne; unendurable. [R.] Donne.— Im*por"tu*nate*ly, adv.— Im*por"tu*nate*ness, n.
IMPORTUNATORIm*por"tu*na`tor, n.
Defn: One who importunes; an importuner. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
IMPORTUNE Im`por*tune", a. Etym: [F. importun, L. importunus; pref. im- not + a derivative from the root of portus harbor, importunus therefore orig. meaning, hard of access. See Port harbor, and cf. Importunate.]
1. Inopportune; unseasonable. [Obs.]
2. Troublesome; vexatious; persistent; urgent; hence, vexatious on account of untimely urgency or perinacious solicitation. [Obs.] And their importune fates all satisfied. Spenser. Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual. Bacon.
IMPORTUNEIm`por*tune", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Importuned; p. pr. & vb. n.Importuning.] Etym: [From Importune, a.: cf. F. importuner.]
1. To request or solicit, with urgency; to press with frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome application or pertinacity; hence, to tease; to irritate; to worry. Their ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the court with unreasonable demands. Swift.
2. To import; to signify. [Obs.] "It importunes death." Spenser.
IMPORTUNEIm`por*tune", v. i.
Defn: To require; to demand. [Obs.]We shall write to you, As time and our concernings shall importune.Shak.
IMPORTUNELYIm`por*tune"ly, adv.
Defn: In an importune manner. [Obs.]
IMPORTUNERIm`por*tun"er, n.
Defn: One who importunes.
IMPORTUNITY Im`por*tu"ni*ty, n.; pl. Importunities. Etym: [L. importunitas unsuitableness, rudeness: cf. F. importunité.]
Defn: The quality of being importunate; pressing or pertinacioussolicitation; urgent request; incessant or frequent application;troublesome pertinacity.O'ercome with importunity and tears. Milton.
IMPORTUOUS Im*por"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. importuosus; pref.im- not + portuosus abounding in harbors, fr. portus harbor.]
Defn: Without a port or harbor. [R.]
IMPOSABLEIm*pos"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. imposable.]
Defn: Capable of being imposed or laid on. Hammond.
IMPOSABLENESSIm*pos"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being imposable.
IMPOSEIm*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Imposing.]Etym: [F. imposer; pref. im- in + poser to place. See Pose, v. t.]
1. To lay on; to set or place; to put; to deposit. Cakes of salt and barley [she] did impose Within a wicker basket. Chapman.
2. To lay as a charge, burden, tax, duty, obligation, command, penalty, etc.; to enjoin; to levy; to inflict; as, to impose a toll or tribute. What fates impose, that men must needs abide. Shak. Death is the penalty imposed. Milton. Thou on the deep imposest nobler laws. Waller.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.
4. (Print.)
Defn: To arrange in proper order on a table of stone or metal and lock up in a chase for printing; — said of columns or pages of type, forms, etc.
IMPOSEIm*pose", v. i.
Defn: To practice trick or deception. To impose on or upon, to pass or put a trick on; to delude. "He imposes on himself, and mistakes words for things." Locke.
IMPOSEIm*pose", n.
Defn: A command; injunction. [Obs.] Shak.
IMPOSEMENTIm*pose"ment, n.
Defn: Imposition. [Obs.]
IMPOSERIm*pos"er, n.
Defn: One who imposes.The imposers of these oaths might repent. Walton.
IMPOSINGIm*pos"ing, a.
1. Laying as a duty; enjoining.
2. Adapted to impress forcibly; impressive; commanding; as, an imposing air; an imposing spectacle. "Large and imposing edifices." Bp. Hobart.
3. Deceiving; deluding; misleading.
IMPOSINGIm*pos"ing, n. (Print.)
Defn: The act of imposing the columns of a page, or the pages of a sheet. See Impose, v. t., 4. Imposing stone (Print.), the stone on which the pages or columns of types are imposed or made into forms; - - called also imposing table.
IMPOSINGLYIm*pos"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an imposing manner.
IMPOSINGNESSIm*pos"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being imposing.
IMPOSITION Im`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. impositio the application of a name to a thing. See Impone.]
1. The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like. "From imposition of strict laws." Milton. Made more solemn by the imposition of hands. Hammond.
2. That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined; charge; burden; injunction; tax.
3. (Eng. Univ.)
Defn: An extra exercise enjoined on students as a punishment. T.Warton.
4. An excessive, arbitrary, or unlawful exaction; hence, a trick or deception put on laid on others; cheating; fraud; delusion; imposture. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition. Shak.
5. (Eccl.)
Defn: The act of laying on the hands as a religious ceremoy, in ordination, confirmation, etc.
6. (Print.)
Defn: The act or process of imosing pages or columns of type. SeeImpose, v. t., 4.
Syn.— Deceit; fraud; imposture. See Deception.
IMPOSSIBILITY Im*pos`si*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Impossibilities. Etym: [L. impossibilitas: cf. F. impossibilité.]
1. The quality of being impossible; impracticability. They confound difficulty with impossibility. South.
2. An impossible thing; that which can not be thought, done, or endured. Impossibilities! O, no, there's none. Cowley.
3. Inability; helplessness. [R.] Latimer. Logical impossibility, a condition or statement involving contradiction or absurdity; as, that a thing can be and not be at the same time. See Principle of Contradiction, under Contradiction.
IMPOSSIBLE Im*pos"si*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. impossibilis; pref. im- not + possibilis possible. See Possible.]
Defn: Not possible; incapable of being done, of existing, etc.; unattainable in the nature of things, or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable; not feasible. With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matt. xix. 26. Without faith it is impossible to please him. Heb. xi. 6. Impossible quantity (Math.), an imagnary quantity. See Imaginary.
Syn.— See Impracticable.
IMPOSSIBLEIm*pos"si*ble, n.
Defn: An impossibility. [Obs.]"Madam," quoth he, "this were an impossible!" Chaucer.
IMPOSSIBLYIm*pos"si*bly, adv.
Defn: Not possibly. Sir. T. North.
IMPOST Im"post, n. Etym: [OF. impost, F. impot, LL. impostus, fr. L. impostus, p. p. of imponere to impose. See Impone.]
1. That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; especially, a duty or tax laid by goverment on goods imported into a country. Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost. Macaulay.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
Note: The impost is called continuous, if the moldings of the arch or architrave run down the jamb or pier without a break.
Syn.— Tribute; excise; custom; duty; tax.
IMPOSTHUMATEIm*post"hu*mate, v. t. Etym: [See Imposthume.]
Defn: To apostemate; to form an imposthume or abscess. Arbuthnot.
IMPOSTHUMATEIm*post"hu*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imposthumated; p. pr. & vb. n.Imposthumating.]
Defn: To affect with an imposthume or abscess.
IMPOSTHUMATEIm*post"hu*mate, a.
Defn: Imposthumated.
IMPOSTHUMATIONIm*post`hu*ma"tion, n.
1. The act of forming an abscess; state of being inflamed; suppuration.
2. An abscess; an imposthume. Coxe.
IMPOSTHUMEIm*post"hume, n. Etym: [A corruption of aposteme. See Aposteme.]
Defn: A collection of pus or purulent matter in any part of an animal body; an abscess.
IMPOSTHUMEIm*post"hume, v. t. & i.
Defn: Same as Imposthumate.
IMPOSTOR Im*pos"tor, n. Etym: [L. impostor a deceiver, fr. imponere to impose upon, deceive. See Impone.]
Defn: One who imposes upon others; a person who assumes a character or title not his own, for the purpose of deception; a pretender. "The fraudulent impostor foul." Milton.
Syn.— Deceiver; cheat; rogue. See Deceiver.
IMPOSTORSHIPIm*pos"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The condition, character, or practice of an impostor. Milton.
IMPOSTRESS; IMPOSTRIXIm*pos"tress, Im*pos"trix, n. Etym: [LL. impostrix. See Impostor.]
Defn: A woman who imposes upon or deceives others. [R.] Fuller.
IMPOSTROUSIm*pos"trous, n.
Defn: Characterized by imposture; deceitful. "Impostrous pretense of knowledge." Grote.
IMPOSTURAGEIm*pos"tur*age, n.
Defn: Imposture; cheating. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
IMPOSTUREIm*pos"ture, n. Etym: [L. impostura: cf. F. imposture. See Impone.]
Defn: The act or conduct of an impostor; deception practiced under afalse or assumed character; fraud or imposition; cheating.From new legends And fill the world with follies and impostures.Johnson.
Syn.— Cheat; fraud; trick; imposition; delusion.
IMPOSTUREDIm*pos"tured, a.
Defn: Done by imposture. [Obs.]
IMPOSTUROUSIm*pos"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Impostrous; deceitful.Strictness fales and impostrous. Beau. & Fl.
IMPOSTURYIm*pos"tur*y, n.
Defn: Imposture. [Obs.] Fuller.
IMPOTENCE; IMPOTENCY Im"po*tence, Im"po*ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. impotenia inability, poverty, want of moderation. See Impotent.]
1. The quality or condition of being impotent; want of strength or power, animal, intellectual, or moral; weakness; feebleness; inability; imbecility. Some were poor by impotency of nature; as young fatherless children, old decrepit persons, idiots, and cripples. Hayward. O, impotence of mind in body strong! Milton.
2. Want of self-restraint or self-control. [R.] Milton.
3. (Law & Med.)
Defn: Want of procreative power; inability to copulate, or beget children; also, sometimes, sterility; barrenness.
IMPOTENT Im"po*tent, a. Etym: [F. impotent, L. impotens, -entis; pref. im- not + potens potent, powerful. See Potent.]
1. Not potent; wanting power, strength. or vigor. whether physical, intellectual, or moral; deficient in capacity; destitute of force; weak; feeble; infirm. There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent inhis feet. Acts xiv. 8. O most lame and impotent conclusion! Shak. Not slow to hear, Nor impotent to save. Addison.
2. Wanting the power of self-restraint; incontrolled; ungovernable; violent. Impotent of tongue, her silence broke. Dryden.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Wanting the power of procreation; unable to copulate; also, sometimes, sterile; barren.
IMPOTENTIm"po*tent, n.
Defn: One who is imoitent. [R.] Shak.
IMPOTENTLYIm"po*tent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an impotent manner.
IMPOUNDIm*pound" (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impounded; p. pr. & vb. n.Impounding.]
Defn: To shut up or place in an inclosure called a pound; hence, to hold in the custody of a court; as, to impound stray cattle; to impound a document for safe keeping. But taken and impounded as a stray, The king of Scots. Shak.
IMPOUNDAGEIm*pound"age, n.
1. The act of impounding, or the state of being impounded.
2. The fee or fine for impounding.
IMPOUNDERIm*pound"er, n.
Defn: One who impounds.
IMPOVERISHIm*pov"er*ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impoverished; p. pr. & vb. n.Impoverishing.] Etym: [OF. empovrir; pref. em- (L. in) + povre poor,F. pauvre; cf. OF. apovrir, F. appauvrir, where the prefix is a-, L.ad. Cf. Empoverish, and see Poor, and -ish.]
1. To make poor; to reduce to poverty or indigence; as, misfortune and disease impoverish families.
2. To exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of; to make sterile; as, to impoverish land.
IMPOVERISHERIm*pov"er*ish*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, impoverishes.
IMPOVERISHMENT Im*pov"er*ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. empoverissement, and F. appauvrissement.]
Defn: The act of impoverishing, or the state of being impoverished; reduction to poverty. Sir W. Scott.
IMPOWERIm*pow"er, v. t.
Defn: See Empower.
IMP-POLEImp"-pole` (, n. (Building)
Defn: A pole for supporting a scaffold.
IMPRACTICABILITYIm*prac`ti*ca*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Impracticabilities (.
1. The state or quality of being impracticable; infeasibility. Goldsmith.
2. An impracticable thing.
3. Intractableness; stubbornness.
IMPRACTICABLEIm*prac"ti*ca*ble, a.
1. Not practicable; incapable of being performed, or accomplished by the means employed, or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking.
2. Not to be overcome, presuaded, or controlled by any reasonable method; unmanageable; intractable; not capable of being easily dealt with; — used in a general sense, as applied to a person or thing that is difficult to control or get along with. This though, impracticable heart Is governed by a dainty-fingered girl. Rowe. Patriotic butloyal men went away disguested afresh with the impracticable arrogance of a sovereign. Palfrey.
3. Incapable of being used or availed of; as, an impracticable road; an impracticable method.
Syn. — Impossible; infeasible. — Impracticable, Impossible. A thing is impracticable when it can not be accomplished by any human means at present possessed; a thing is impossible when the laws of nature forbid it. The navigation of a river may now be impracticable, but not impossible, because the existing obstructions may yet be removed. "The barons exercised the most despotic authority over their vassals, and every scheme of public utility was rendered impracticable by their continued petty wars with each other." Mickle. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt. xix. 26.
IMPRACTICABLENESSIm*prac"ti*ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being impracticable; impracticability.
IMPRACTICABLYIm*prac"ti*ca*bly, adv.
Defn: In an impracticable manner.Morality not impracticably rigid. Johnson.
IMPRACTICALIm*prac"ti*cal, a.
Defn: Not practical.
IMPRECATEIm"pre*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imprecated; p. pr. & vb. n.Imprecating.] Etym: [L. imprecatus, p. p. of imprecari to imprecate;pref. im- in, on + precari to pray. See Pray.]
1. To call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous. Imprecate the vengeance of Heaven on the guilty empire. Mickle.
2. To invoke evil upon; to curse; to swear at. In vain we blast the ministers of Fate, And the forlorn physicians imprecate. Rochester.
IMPRECATIONIm`pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. imprecatio: cf. F. imprécation.]
Defn: The act of imprecating, or unvoking evil upon any one; a player that a curse or calamnity may fall on any one; a curse. Men cowered like slaves before such horrid imprecations. Motley.
Syn.— Malediction; curse; execration; anathema. See Malediction.
IMPRECATORYIm"pre*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or containing, imprecation; invokingevil; as, the imprecatory psalms.
IMPRECISIONIm`pre*ci"sion, n.
Defn: Want of precision. [R.]
IMPREGNIm*pregn", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. impregner. See Impregnate.]
Defn: To impregnate; to make fruitful. [Obs.]His perniciousss words, impregned With reason. Milton.Semele doth Bacchus bear Impregned of Jove. Dr. H. More.
IMPREGNABILITYIm*preg`na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being impregnable; invincibility.
IMPREGNABLE Im*preg"na*ble, a. Etym: [F. imprenable; pref. im- not + prenable pregnable, fr. prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Comprehend, Get to obtain.]
Defn: Not to be stormed, or taken by assault; incapable of being subdued; able to resist attack; unconquerable; as, an impregnable fortress; impregnable virtue. The man's affection remains wholly unconcerned and impregnable. South. — Im*preg"na*ble*ness, n. — Im*preg"na*bly, adv.
IMPREGNABLEIm*preg"na*ble, a. Etym: [See Impregnate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Capable of being impregnated, as the egg of an animal, or the ovule of a plant.
IMPREGNANTIm*preg"nant, n. Etym: [See Impregnate.]
Defn: That which impregnates. [R.] Glanvill.
IMPREGNANTIm*preg"nant, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + pregnant.]
Defn: Not pregnant; unfertilized or infertile. [R.]
IMPREGNATEIm*preg"nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impregnated; p. pr. & vb. n.Impregnating.] Etym: [LL. impraegnatus, p. p. of impraegnare toimpregnate, fr. L. pref. im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant.]
1. To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate.
3. To infuse an active principle into; to render frutful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue.
4. To infuse particles of another substance into; to communicate the quality of another to; to cause to be filled, imbued, mixed, or furnished (with something); as, to impregnate India rubber with sulphur; clothing impregnated with contagion; rock impregnated with ore.
IMPREGNATEIm*preg"nate, v. i.
Defn: To become pregnant. Addison.
IMPREGNATEIm*preg"nate, a. Etym: [LL. impraegnatus, p. p.]
Defn: Impregnated; made prolific.The scorching ray Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease. Byron.
IMPREGNATIONIm`preg*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. imprégnation, LL. impraegnatio.]
1. The act of impregnating or the state of being impregnated; fecundation.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The fusion of a female germ cell (ovum) with a male germ cell (in animals, a spermatozoön) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation.
Note: In the broadest biological sense, impregnation, or sexual generation, consists simply in the coalescence of two similar masses of protoplasmic matter, either derived from different parts of the same organism or from two distinct organisms. From the single mass, which results from the fusion, or coalescence, of these two masses, a new organism develops.
3. That with which anything is impregnated. Derham.
4. Intimate mixture; influsion; saturation.
5. (Mining)
Defn: An ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond.
IMPREJUDICATEIm`pre*ju"di*cate, a.
Defn: Not prejuged; unprejudiced; impartial. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
IMPRENABLEIm*pre"na*ble, a.
Defn: Impregnable. [Obs.]
IMPREPARATIONIm*prep`a*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Want of preparation. [Obs.] Hooker.
IMPRESAIm*pre"sa, n. Etym: [It. See Emprise, and cf. Impress, n., 4.] (Her.)
Defn: A device on a shield or seal, or used as a bookplate or thelike. [Written also imprese and impress.]My impresa to your lordship; a swain Flying to a laurel for shelter.J. Webster.
IMPRESARIO Im`pre*sa"ri*o, n.; pl. Impresarios. Etym: [It., from impresa enterprise.]
Defn: The projector, manager, or conductor, of an opera or concert company.
IMPRESCRIPTIBILITYIm`pre*scrip`ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. imprescriptibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being imprescriptible.
IMPRESCRIPTIBLE Im`pre*scrip"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. im- not + prescriptible: cf. F. imprescriptible.]
1. Not capable of being lost or impaired by neglect, by disuse, or by the claims of another founded on prescription. The right of navigation, fishing, and others that may be exercised on the sea, belonging to the right of mere ability, are imprescriptible. Vattel (Trans. )
2. Not derived from, or dependent on, external authority; self- evidencing; obvious. The imprescriptible laws of the pure reason. Colerridge.
IMPRESCRIPTIBLYIm`pre*scrip"ti*bly, adv.
Defn: In an imprescriptible manner; obviously.
IMPRESEIm*prese", n.
Defn: A device. See Impresa. An imprese, as the Italians call it, is a device in picture with his motto or word, borne by noble or learned personages. Camden.
IMPRESSIm*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impressed; p. pr. & vb. n.Impressing.] Etym: [L. impressus, p. p. of imprimere to impress;pref. im- in, on + premere to press. See Press to squeeze, and cf.Imprint.]
1. To press, stamp, or print something in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as by pressure; to imprint (that which bears the impression). His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed. Shak.
2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to imprint (a mark or figure upon something).
3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate. Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them. I. Watts.
4. Etym: [See Imprest, Impress, n., 5.]
Defn: To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors ormoney.The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sickand wounded prisoners. Evelyn.
IMPRESSIm*press", v. i.
Defn: To be impressed; to rest. [Obs.]Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress. Chaucer.
IMPRESSIm"press, n.; pl. Impresses (.
1. The act of impressing or making.
2. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of anything, formed by pressure or as if by pressure; result produced by pressure or influence. The impresses of the insides of these shells. Woodward. This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice. Shak.
3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp. South.
4. A device. See Impresa. Cussans. To describe . . . emblazoned shields, Impresses quaint. Milton.
5. Etym: [See Imprest, Press to force into service.]
Defn: The act of impressing, or taking by force for the public service; compulsion to serve; also, that which is impressed. Why such impress of shipwrights Shak. Impress gang, a party of men, with an officer, employed to impress seamen for ships of war; a press gang. — Impress money, a sum of money paid, immediately upon their entering service, to men who have been impressed.