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-pôr'tū-na-cy, n. p. 666The quality of being importunate; importunateness.Im-pôr'tū-nate, a. p. 666Troublesomely urgent; unreasonably solicitous; over-pressing in request or demand; pertinacious in solicitation; urgent; teasing; as, an importunate suitor or petitioner; importunate passions.…Im-pōrt'ū-nate-ly, adv. p. 666In an importunate manner; with pressing solicitation.Im·pŏrt'ū·nate-ness, n. p. 666Urgent and pressing solicitation.Im-pôrt'ū-nā'/tor, n. p. 666One who importunes. [Obs.] Sandys.Ĭm′pŏr-tūne′, v. t. p. 666To request with urgency; to press with solicitation; to urge with frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome application; to tease. Their ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the…Ĭm’por-tūne’, v. i. p. 666To require; to call for; to demand. [Obs.] We shall write to you As time and our concernings shall importune. Shak. Formerly the second syllable took the accent, and not the last.Ĭm’por-tūne’,, a. p. 666Pressing in request; troublesome by frequent demands; urgent; vexatious. Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual. Bacon. 2. Unseasonable; inopportune; unfortunate. “The…Im’por-tūne’ly, adv. p. 666In an importunate manner; with urgent solicitation; incessantly; continually; troublesomely; inopportunely. [Obs.] Spenser.Im’por-tūn’er, n. p. 666One who importunes, or urges with earnestness.Ĭm’por-tū’ni-ty, n. p. 666The quality of being importunate; pressing solicitation; urgent request; application urged with troublesome frequency or pertinacity. “O’recome with importunity and tears.” Milton.Im-pōr'tū-ōūs, a. p. 666Without a port, haven, or harbor. [Rare.]Im-pōs'a-ble, a. p. 666Capable of being imposed or laid on.Im-pōs'a-ble-ness, n. p. 666State of being imposable.Im-pōse', v. t. p. 666To lay on; to set or place; to put; to deposit; — generally with on or upon. Cakes of salt and barley [she] did impose Within a wicker basket. Chapman. 2. To lay as a charge, burden, tax, duty…Im-pōse’, n. p. 666An imposition; command; injunction. [Obs.] Shak.Im-pōse'ment, n. p. 666Imposition. [Obs.] Moore.Im-pōs'er, n. p. 666One who imposes or lays on; one who enjoins. The imposers of these oaths might repent. Walton.Im-pōs'ing, p. a. p. 666Laying as a duty; enjoining. 2. Adapted to impress forcibly; impressive; commanding; as, an imposing air or manner. Large and imposing edifices, imbosomed in the groves of some rich valley. Bp.…Im-pōs'ing, n. p. 666(Print.) The act of putting the pages of a sheet in proper order on the imposing-stone, and preparing them to be printed.Im-pōs'ing-ly, adv. p. 666In an imposing manner.Im-pōs'ing-ness, n. p. 666The state or quality of being imposing or impressive.Im-pōs'ing-stōne, n. p. 666(Print.) The stone on which the pages or columns of types are imposed or made into forms; — called also imposing-table.Im’po-si’tion, n. p. 666The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like. “The imposition of strict laws.” Milton. “The first imposition of names.” Hammond. 2. That which is imposed…Im-pŏs'i-tor, n. p. 666One who imposes; an imposer. [Rare.]Im-pōs'si-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 666The 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…Im-pŏs′si-ble, a. p. 666Not possible; incapable of being done; unattainable in the nature of things or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable. With men this is…Im-pŏs'si-ble, n. p. 666Something that can not be, or can not be done. [Rare.] Harris.Ĭm’pōst, n. p. 666That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; often a duty or tax laid by government on goods imported into a country. Even the ship-money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been…Im-pōst’hu-māte, v. i. p. 666To form an abscess; to gather; to collect pus or purulent matter in any part of an animal body. Arbuthnot.Im-pōst'hu-māte, v. t. p. 666To affect with an imposthume or abscess.Im-pōst'hu-mate, a. p. 666Swollen or bloated with corrupt or purulent matter; imposthumated.Im·pŏst'hu·mā'tion, n. p. 666The act of forming an abscess. 2. An abscess; an impostume. Coxe.Im-pŏst'hūme, n. p. 666A collection of pus or purulent matter in any part of an animal body; an abscess.Im-pŏst'hūme, v. i. & t. p. 666Same as IMPOSTHUMATE.Im-pŏs'tor, n. p. 666One who imposes upon others; a person who assumes a character for the purpose of deception; a deceiver under a false character; a pretender. “The fraudulent impostor foul.” Milton. Syn.— Deceiver…Im-pŏs'tor-shĭp, n. p. 666The condition, character, or practice of an impostor. Milton.Im-pŏs'trix, n. p. 666A female who imposes. [Obs.] “So notorious an impostrix.” Fuller.Im-pŏst'ūr-aġe, n. p. 666Imposition. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.Im-pŏst'ūre, n. p. 666The act or conduct of an impostor; deception practiced under a false or assumed character; fraud or imposition. Form new legends, And fill the world with follies and impostures. Johnson. Syn.—Cheat…Im-pŏst'ūred, a. p. 666Having the nature of imposture. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Im-pŏst'ūr-oŭs, a. p. 666Deceitful. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Im-pŏst'ūr-y, n. p. 666Imposition; deceit; imposture. [Obs.] Fuller.Ĭm'po-tençe or Ĭm'po-ten-çy, n. p. 666The quality or condition of being impotent; want of strength or power, animal, intellectual, or moral; weakness; feebleness; inability; imbecility; defect of power, natural or adventitious, to…Im'po-tent, a. p. 666Not potent; wanting power, strength, or vigor, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; deficient in capacity; destitute of force; weak; feeble. Not slow to hear, Nor impotent to save. Addison. 2.…Ĭm'po-tent, n. p. 666One who is feeble, infirm, or languishing under disease. Shak.Im'po·tent-ly, adv. p. 666In an impotent manner; weakly; without power over the passions.Im-pound’,, v. t. p. 666To put, shut, or confine, in a pound or close pen; to confine; to restrain within limits. But taken and impounded, as a stray, The king of Scots. Shak.Im-pound’age, n. p. 666The act of impounding cattle.Im-pound'er, n. p. 666One who impounds.Im-pōv'er-ish, v. t. p. 666To make poor; to reduce to poverty or indigence; as, misfortune and disease impoverish individuals and families. 2. To exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of; to make sterile; as, to…Im-pŏv'er-ish-er, n. p. 666One who, or that which, impoverishes.Im-pōv'er-ish-ly, adv. p. 666In a manner to impoverish. [Obs.]Im-pŏv'er-ish-ment, n. p. 666The act of impoverishing, or the state of being impoverished; reduction to poverty; exhaustion; drain of wealth, richness, or fertility. W. Scott.Im·pow'er, v. t. p. 666See EMPOWER.Im·prāc'ti·ca·bil'i·ty, n. p. 666The state or quality of being impracticable; infeasibility. 2. Untractableness; stubbornness. Burnet.Im-prăc'ti-ca-ble, a. p. 666Not practicable; incapable of being practiced, performed, or accomplished by the means employed or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking. 2. Not easily managed or controlled…Im-prăc'ti-ca-ble-ness, n. p. 667The state or quality of being impracticable; impracticability.Im-prăc'ti-ca-bly, adv. p. 667In an impracticable manner. “Morality not impracticably rigid.” Johnson.Im'pre-cāte, v. t. p. 667To call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous; to invoke, as evil. “Imprecate the vengeance of Heaven on the guilty empire.” Mickle. 2. To invoke evil on. [Rare.] In vain we blast the…