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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Im-prĕss'ĭ-ble, a. p. 667Capable of being impressed; yielding to an impression; susceptible.Im-prĕss'i-ble-ness, n. p. 667Having the quality of being impressible.Im-prĕss'i-bly, adv. p. 667In an impressible manner.Im-prĕs'sion, n. p. 667The act of impressing or stamping; marking by pressure or imprint; the communication of a stamp, mold, or character, by external force. 2. That which is produced by pressure; — as, (a.) A stamp made…Proof impression p. 667an early impression taken, as from types, an engraved plate, lithographic stone, and the like. See PROOF.Im-prēs/sion-a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 667The quality of being impressionable; impressionableness.Im-prĕs'sion-a-ble, a. p. 667Susceptible of impression; capable of being molded; susceptible. He was too impressionable; he had too much of the temperament of genius. Morley. That she had done a grievous thing in taking an…Im-prĕs'sion-a-ble-ness, n. p. 667The quality of being impressionable; impressionability.Im-prĕs′ion-less, a. p. 667Having the quality of not being impressed or affected.Im-prĕss'ive, a. p. 667Making, or tending to make, an impression; having the power of affecting, or of exciting attention and feeling; adapted to touch the sensibilities or the conscience; as, an impressive discourse; an…Im-prĕss'ive-ly, adv. p. 667In an impressive manner; forcibly.Im-prĕss'ive-ness, n. p. 667The quality of being impressive.Im-prĕss'ment, n. p. 667The act of seizing for public use, or of impressing into public service; compulsion to serve; as, the impressment of provisions or sailors.Im-press'ure, n. p. 667The mark made by pressure; indentation; dent; impression. [Obs.] The impressure of those ample favors . . . Would bind my faith to all observances. B. Jonson.Im'prest, n. p. 667A kind of earnest-money; loan; money advanced. Burke. The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. Pepys.Im-prĕst’, v. t. p. 667To advance on loan. Burke.Im-prĕv'a-lence or Im-prĕv'a-len-cy, n. p. 667Incapability of prevailing; want of prevalence. [Obs.] Hall.Im′pre-vĕnt′a-ble, a. p. 667Not capable of being prevented; inevitable; certain.Ĭm′/pre-vĕn′/ta-bĭl′/i-ty, n. p. 667State or quality of being impreventable; impossibility of preventing. [R.]Im'pri-mā'tur, n. p. 667A license to print a book, &c.Im-prīm′er-y, n. p. 667A print; impression. 2. A printing-house. 3. The art of printing.Im-prim’ing, n. p. 667The first motion, or the first action. [Obs.] Wotton.Im·pri'mis, adv. p. 667In the first place; first in order.Ĭm'print, n. p. 667Whatever is impressed or printed on the title page, as of a book; especially, the name of the printer or publisher, with the time and place of publishment.Im-print’, v. t. p. 667To impress; to mark by pressure; to indent; to stamp. 2. To stamp or mark, as letters on paper, by means of types; to print. 3. To fix indelibly or permanently, as on the mind or memory; to impress.…Im-pris'on, v. t. p. 668To put into a prison; to confine in a prison or jail, or to arrest and detain in custody. 2. To limit, hinder, or restrain in any way; as, to be imprisoned in a cell. He imprisoned was in chains…Im-pris'on-er, n. p. 668One who imprisons.Im-pris'on-ment, n. p. 668The act of imprisoning, or the state of being imprisoned; confinement in a prison; restraint of liberty. His sinews were waxed weak and raw Through long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spencer.…Im-prŏb'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 668The quality of being improbable, or not likely to be true; unlikelihood.Im·prōb'a·ble, a. p. 668Not probable; unlikely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances of the case; as, an improbable story or event. He . . . sent an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover.…Im·prōb'a·bly, adv. p. 668In an improbable manner.Im'pro-bāte, v. t. p. 668To disallow; not to approve. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Ĭm'pro-bā'tion, n. p. 668The act of disapproving. [Obs.] 2. (Scots Law.) The act by which perjury or falsehood is proved; an action brought for the purpose of having some instrument declared false or forged. Bell. Burrell.Im-prŏb'i-ty, n. p. 668Absence of probity; want of integrity or rectitude of principle; dishonesty. Persons excommunicable, yea, and cast out for notorious improbity. Hooker.