Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Im-pĕd’i-ment, n. p. 662That which impedes or hinders progress or motion; hinderance; obstruction; obstacle. Thus far into the bowels of the land. Have we marched on without impediment. Shak. Impediment in speech, a defect…Im-pĕd'i-ment, v. t. p. 663To impede; to obstruct; to hinder; to retard. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.Im-ped'i-mēnt'al, a. p. 663Hindering; obstructing. [Rare.] Mountague.Ĭm'pe-dite, a. p. 663Hindered; obstructed. [Obs.] “Impedite faculties.” Bp. Taylor.Im'pe-dite, v. t. p. 663To impede. [Obs.]Ĭm'pe-dĭ'tion, n. p. 663A hindering. [Obs.] Baxter.Im-pĕd'i-tive, a. p. 663Causing hinderance; impeding. Bp. Sanderson.Im-pĕl', v. t. p. 663To drive or urge forward; to press on; to incite to action in any way. The surge impelled me on a craggy coast. Pope. And several men impel to several ends. Pope. Syn.—To instigate; incite; induce…Im-pĕl'ient, a. p. 663Having the quality of impelling.Im-pēl'ient, n. p. 663A power or force that drives forward; motive or impulsive power. Glanville.Im-pēl'ler, n. p. 663One who, or that which, impels.Im-pĕn', v. t. p. 663To pen; to shut or inclose in a narrow place. Feltham.Im-pĕnd′, v. i. p. 663To hang over; to be suspended above; to threaten from near at hand; to be imminent. Destruction sure o’er all your heads impends. Pope.Im-pĕnd’, v. t. p. 663To pay; to render. [Obs.] Fabyan.Im-pĕnd'ençe or Im-pĕnd'en-cy, n. p. 663The state of impending; near approach; a menacing attitude.Im-pēnd'ent, a. p. 663Impending; imminent; threatening; pressing closely; as, an impendent evil. “Impendent horrors threatening hideous fall.” Milton.Im-pĕnd'ing, p. a. p. 663Hanging over; approaching near; impendent. Syn.—Imminent; threatening. See IMMINENT.Im-pēn'e-tra-bil'i-ty, n. p. 663The quality of being impenetrable. 2. (Physics.) That property of matter by which it excludes all other matter from the space it occupies. 3. Insusceptibility of intellectual impression; obtuseness…Im-pēn'e-tra-ble, a. p. 663Incapable of being penetrated or pierced; not admitting the passage of other bodies; not to be entered; as, an impenetrable shield. Highest woods impenetrable To star or sunlight. Milton. 2. Hence…Im-pĕn'e-tra-ble-ness, n. p. 663Impenetrability.Im-pēn'e-tra-bly, adv. p. 663In an impenetrable manner; so as to be impenetrable. “Impenetrably armed.” Milton. “Impenetrably dull.” Pope.Im-pĕn'i-tençe or Im-pĕn'i-ten-cy, n. p. 663The condition of being impenitent; want of penitence or repentance; obduracy of heart. He will advance from one degree of impenitence to another. Rogers.Im-pĕn'i-tent, a. p. 663Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; obdurate; of a hard heart. “They died impenitent.” Milton.Im-pĕn'i-tent, n. p. 663One who does not repent; a hardened sinner.Im-pĕn'i-tent-ly, adv. p. 663Without repentance or contrition for sin; obdurately.Im-pĕn'nate, a. p. 663(Ornith.) Characterized by short wings covered with feathers resembling scales, as certain swimming birds, among which are the penguins and allied species.Im-pĕn'nate, n. p. 663(Ornith.) One of a tribe of swimming birds having short wings, as the penguin.Im-pĕn'nŏus, a. p. 663Having no wings, as some insects.Im-pēo'ple, v. t. p. 663To form into a community. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Ĭm'pe-rant, a. p. 663Commanding. [Obs.] Baxter.Ĭm'pe-rate, a. p. 663Done by express direction; not involuntary; commanded. [Obs.] “Those imperate acts wherein we see the empire of the soul.” Hale.Im-pĕr'a-tive, a. p. 663Expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders. The suits of kings are imperative. Hall. 2. Not to be…Im-pĕr'a-tive-ly, adv. p. 663In an imperative manner; authoritatively.Im'pe·rā'tor, n. p. 663(Rom. Antiq.) A commander-in-chief; a generalissimo; — a title of honor conferred on Roman generals in connection with great military achievements. It was often given by soldiers who saluted their…Im-pĕr'a-tō'ri-ă, n. p. 663(Bot.) A genus of umbelliferous plants, including the great masterwort, I. ostruthium.Im-pĕr/a-tō'ri-al or Im-pĕr/a-to-ry, a. p. 663Commanding. Norris. 2. Of, or pertaining to, the title or office of imperator. “Imperatorial laurels.” C. Merivale.Ĭm/per-cēiv'a-ble, a. p. 663Imperceptible. [Rare.] South.ĭm’per-ceiv’a-ble-ness, n. p. 663Imperceptibleness. [Rare.]Ĭm'per-cĕp'ti-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 663The state or quality of being imperceptible; imperceptibleness.Ĭm'per·cĕp'ti·ble, a. p. 663Not perceptible; not to be apprehended or cognized by the senses; insensible; impalpable; not discernible by the mind; not easily apprehended. Its operation is slow, and in some cases almost…Ĭm/per-çĕp'ti-ble, n. p. 663That which can not be perceived on account of its smallness. Tatler.Ĭm/per-cĕp/ti-ble-ness, n. p. 663The quality of being imperceptible.Ĭm'per-cĕp'ti-bly, adv. p. 663In a manner not to be perceived.Ĭm'per-cĕp'tion, n. p. 663Want of perception. “The silence of imperception.” Henry More.Ĭm′per-cĕp′tive, a. p. 663Unable to perceive. “The imperceptive part of the soul.” Henry More.Im·per·cēp′i·ent, a. p. 663Not perceiving, or not having power to perceive. [Obs.] Baxter.Im-pĕr'di-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 663The state or quality of being imperdible. [Obs.] Derham.Im-pēr'di-ble, a. p. 663Not destructible. [Obs.]Im·pěr'fect, a. p. 663Not perfect or complete in all its parts; wanting a part; defective in quantity or quality. 2. Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity. He stammered like a…Im-pĕr'fect, v. t. p. 663To cause to become imperfect; to make imperfect. [Obs.] Browne.Ĭm'per-fĕc'tion, n. p. 663The quality or condition of being imperfect; want of perfection; incompleteness; deficiency. Sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. Shak. Syn.—Defect; deficiency; incompleteness…Im-pēr'fect-ly, adv. p. 663In an imperfect manner or degree; not fully; not entirely; not completely.Im-pēr'fect-ness, n. p. 663The state of being imperfect.Im-pĕr'fo-ra-ble, a. p. 663Incapable of being perforated, or bored through.Im-pēr'fo-rate, a. p. 663Not perforated or pierced; having no opening.Im-pēr'fo-rā'ted, a. p. 663Not perforated; imperforate. 2. Having no pores. Sir J. Banks.Im-pēr'fo-rā'tion, n. p. 663The state of being imperforated, or without aperture.Im-pē'ri-al, a. p. 663Pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict; imperial power or sway; the imperial parliament. The last That wore the imperial diadem of Rome.…Im-pē'ri-al, n. p. 663(Arch.) A kind of dome, which, viewed in profile, is pointed toward the top, and widens as it descends, as in Moorish buildings. Elmes. 2. A tuft of hair on a man's lower lip. 3. An outside seat on a…Im-pē'ri-al-ism, n. p. 663The power, authority, or character of an emperor; the spirit of empire.