Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Ĭm'pre-cā'tion, n. p. 667The act of imprecating, or invoking evil on any one; a prayer that a curse or calamity may fall on any one. Men cowered like slaves before such horrid imprecations. Motley. Syn. — Malediction; curse…Ĭm′pre-ca-to-ry, a. p. 667Of the nature of imprecation; invoking evil; maledictory.Ĭm'pre-cĭs'ion, n. p. 667Want of precision or exactness; defect of accuracy. [Rare.]Im-prēgn’, v. t. p. 667To impregnate; to make prolific; to fecundate. [Obs.] His pernicious words, impregned With reason. Milton.Im-prēg/na-bĭl/i-ty, n. p. 667State of being impregnable; impregnableness.Im-prĕg'na-ble, a. p. 667Not to be stormed, or taken by assault; incapable of being reduced by force; able to resist attack; as, an impregnable fortress. 2. Not to be moved, impressed, or shaken; invincible. The man's…Im-prĕg'na-ble-ness, n. p. 667The state of being impregnable; impregnability.Im-prĕg'na-bly, adv. p. 667In an impregnable manner; in a manner to defy force; as, a place impregnably fortified.Im-prĕg'nant, n. p. 667That which impregnates. Glanville.Im-prĕg'nant, a. p. 667Not pregnant. [Rare.]Im-prĕg'nāte, v. t. p. 667To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child. 2. To infuse an active principle into; to render fruitful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue. 3. To infuse…Im-prĕg'nate, a. p. 667Rendered prolific or fruitful; impregnated. The scorching ray Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease. Byron.Im'preg-nā'tion, n. p. 667The act of impregnating; fecundation. 2. The state of being impregnated. 3. Intimate mixture of parts or particles; infusion; saturation. 4. That with which any thing is impregnated. [Obs.] Derham.Ĭm'pre-jŭ'di-eate, a. p. 667Not prejudged; unprejudiced; not prepossessed; impartial. [Obs.] “Imprejudicate apprehensions.” Browne.Im-prĕp'a-rā'tion, n. p. 667Want of preparation; unpreparedness; unreadiness. [Obs.] Hooker.Im-pre'sā, n. p. 667A device on a shield, seal, and the like. [Written also imprese and impress.] My impresa to your lordship; a swain Flying to a laurel for shelter. Webster.Ĭm'pre-scrēp'ti-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 667The quality of being imprescriptible.Ĭm'/pre-scrĭp'ti-ble, a. p. 667Not capable of being lost or impaired by neglect to use, or by the claims of another founded on prescription. The rights of navigation, fishing, and others that may be exercised on the sea, belonging…Im'pre-scrip'ti-bly, adv. p. 667In an imprescriptible manner.Im-prēse', n. p. 667A device, as on a shield; the same as 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.Im-prĕss', v. t. p. 667To press, or stamp, in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as if by pressure; to make a mark or figure upon. “This heart, like an agate, with your print impressed.” Shak. 2. To produce by pressure, as a…Im'press, n. p. 667A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of any thing formed by pressure, or as if by pressure; stamp; mold; communicated character. “The impresses of the insides of…Im-prĕss'-găng, n. p. 667A party of men, with an officer, employed to impress seamen for ships of war. See PRESS-GANG.Im-prĕss'i-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 667The quality of being impressible.