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.
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.Im-pē'ri-al-ist, n. p. 663One who belongs to an emperor; a subject or soldier of an emperor. The denomination imperialists is often given to the troops or armies of the emperor of Germany.Im-pē'ri-āl'i-ty, n. p. 663Imperial power. 2. An imperial right or privilege. See ROYALTY. The late empress having, by ukases of grace, relinquished her imperialities on the private mines, viz., the tenths of the copper, iron…Im-pē'ri-al-ize, v. t. p. 663To make imperial; to bring to the form of an empire. [R.] Fuller.