Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Im-prŏv′ĭ-sa-tō′re, n. p. 668See IMPROVVISATORE.Im-prŏv'i-sa-tō'ri-al or Im-prŏv'i-sa-to-ry, a. p. 668Relating to extemporary composition of rhymes.Im-prōv'i-sa-tri'ce, n. p. 668See IMPROVVISATRICE.Ĭm′pro-vīse′, v. t. p. 668To speak extemporaneously, especially in verse. 2. To bring about on a sudden, off-hand, or without previous preparation. Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.Im'pro-vīse', v. i. p. 669To utter compositions, especially in verse, without previous preparation; hence, to do any thing off-hand; as, to improvise successfully.Ĭm’pro-vĭz’er, n. p. 669One who improvises; an improvisator.Im'pro-vi'sion, n. p. 669Want of forecast; improvidence. [Obs.] Browne.Im'pro-vī'so, a. p. 669Not prepared or meditated beforehand; extemporaneous; impromptu. [Obs.] Johnson.Im·prŏv'ĭ·sa·tō're, n. p. 669A man who composes and sings or recites rhymes and short poems extemporaneously and immediately. [Written also improvisatore.]Im-prŏv'vĕ-sa-trĭ'ce, n. p. 669A woman who composes and sings or recites rhymes or short poems extemporaneously. [Written also improvisatrice.]Im-prū'dence, n. p. 669The quality of being imprudent; want of prudence; indiscretion; want of caution, circumspection, or a due regard to consequences; heedlessness; inconsideration; rashness. His serenity was…Im-pru'dent, a. p. 669Not prudent; wanting prudence or discretion; indiscreet; injudicious; not attentive to consequences; rash; heedless. Her majesty took a great dislike at the imprudent behavior of many of the…Im-prū'dent-ly, adv. p. 669In an imprudent manner; indiscreetly.Im-pū'ber-al, a. p. 669Not having arrived at puberty. In impūberal animals the cerebellum is, in proportion to the brain proper, greatly less than in adult. Sir W. Hamilton.Im-pū’ber-ty, n. p. 669Want of age at which the marriage contract can be legally entered into. Paley.Ĭm'pu-dençe, n. p. 669The quality of being impudent; assurance, accompanied with a disregard of the presence or opinions of others; shamelessness; want of modesty. Those clear truths that either their own evidence forces…Ĭm'pu-den-çy, n. p. 669Impudence. [Obs.] Burton.Ĭm'pu-dent, a. p. 669Bold, with contempt or disregard of others; unblushingly forward; wanting modesty; shameless. When we behold an angel, not to fear Is to be impudent. Dryden. Syn. — Shameless; audacious; brazen…Ĭm'pu-dent-ly, adv. p. 669In an impudent manner; with indecent assurance; shamelessly. At once assail With open mouths, and impudently rail. Sandys.Ĭm’pu-dĭs’-i-ty, n. p. 669Immodesty. Sheldon.Im-pūgn', v. t. p. 669To attack by words or arguments; to contradict; to assail; to call in question; to make insinuations against; to gainsay. The truth hereof I will not rashly impugn, or over-boldly affirm. Peacham.Im-pūgn'a-ble, a. p. 669Capable of being impugned.Im’pug-nā’tion, n. p. 669Opposition. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Im-pāgn'er, n. p. 669One who impugns; one who opposes or contradicts.Im-pūgn'ment, n. p. 669The act of impugning. Ed. Rev.Im-pū'is-sance, n. p. 669Impotence; weakness. [Obs.] Bacon.Im-pū'is-sant, a. p. 669Weak; impotent. [Obs.]Im'pul-se, n. p. 669The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; the action of a force so as to produce motion suddenly, or without appreciable lapse of time. 2. The effect of an impelling…Im-pŭlse′, v. t. p. 669To impel; to incite. [Obs. or poet.] Pope.Im-pŭl'sion, n. p. 669The act of impelling or driving onward; the sudden or momentary agency of a body in motion on another body. 2. Influence acting unexpectedly or temporarily on the mind, from without or within; sudden…Im-pŭl'sive, a. p. 669Having the power of driving or impelling; moving; impellent. Poor men! poor papers! We and they Do some impulsive force obey. Prior. 2. Actuated by impulse; as, a person who is impulsive often acts…Im-pūl'sive, n. p. 669That which impels or moves; impulsive agency; impelling cause; impulse.Im-pŭl'sĭve-ly, adv. p. 669With force; by impulse.Im-pūl'sive-ness, n. p. 669The quality of being impulsive.Im-pūnctate, a. p. 669Not punctate or dotted.Im-pūnct'ū-al, a. p. 669Not punctual. [Rare.]Im-pūnc'tū-āl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 669Neglect of punctuality. [Rare.] A. Hamilton.Im-pū'ni-bly, adv. p. 669Without punishment. [Obs.]Im-pū'ni-ty, n. p. 669\n\n1. Exemption from punishment or penalty.\n\nHeaven, though slow to wrath,\nIs never with impunity defied. Cooper.\n\n2. Exemption from injury or loss; security.Im-pūre′, a. p. 669Mixed or impregnated with extraneous substances; not pure; foul; feculent; tinctured; as, impure water or air; impure salt or magnesia. 2. Defiled by sin or guilt; unholy; — said of persons. 3.…Im-pūre', v. t. p. 669To render foul; to defile; to pollute. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Im-pūre'ly, adv. p. 669In an impure manner; with impurity.Im-pūre'ness or Im-pū'ri-ty, n. p. 669The condition or quality of being impure; want of purity; foulness; feculence; pollution; defilement; obscenity; lewdness; as, the impurity of water, of air, of spirits, of character, language…Im-pûr'ple, v. t. p. 669To color or tinge with purple; to make red or reddish; as, a field impurpled with blood. The bright Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, Impurpled with celestial roses, smiled. Milton.Im-pūt'/a-bil'/i-ty, n. p. 669The quality of being imputable; imputableness.Im-pū't'a-ble, a. p. 669Capable of being imputed or charged; chargeable; ascribable; attributable. A prince whose political vices, at least, were imputable to mental incapacity. Prescott. 2. Accusable; chargeable with a…Im-pūt'a-ble-ness, n. p. 669The quality of being imputable; imputability. — Norris.Ĭm'pu-tā'tion, n. p. 669The act of imputing or charging; attribution; any thing imputed or charged. If I had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humor his men with the imputation of being near their master. Shak. 2. Charge or…Im-pūt'a-tĭve, a. p. 669Coming by imputation; imputed. Milton.Im-pūt'a-tive-ly, adv. p. 669By imputation.Im-pūte′, v. t. p. 669To charge; to ascribe; to attribute; to set to the account of. Nor you, ye proud, to these impute the fault, If memory o’er their tomb no trophies raise. Gray. 2. To charge to one as the author…Im-pūt'er, n. p. 669One who imputes or attributes.Im'pu-trĕs'ci-ble, a. p. 669Not subject to putrefaction or corruption.Ĭn p. 669A prefix from the Latin in, not, often used in composition, as a particle of negation, like the English un, as in inactive, incapable, or signifying within, into, or among, as in inbred, incase, or…Ĭn, prep. p. 669Within; inside of; surrounded by; not outside of;—used to indicate a variety of relations; especially, (a.) Presence or situation within limits, whether of place, time, or circumstances; inclosure by…Ĭn, adv. p. 670Not out; within; inside. ☞ The sails of a vessel are said, in nautical language, to be in when they are furled, or when stowed. 2. (Law.) With privilege or possession;—used to denote a holding…Ĭn, n. p. 670A person who is in office;—the opposite of out. 2. A re-entrant angle; a nook or corner;—usually in the plural, and especially in the phrase ins and outs, that is, nooks and corners. “Ins and outs of…In, v. t. p. 670To inclose; to take in. [Obs.] Bacon.In·a·bil'i·ty, n. p. 670The quality of being unable; lack of ability; want of sufficient physical power or strength, or resources; defect of requisite moral or intellectual capacity. It is not from an inability to discover…In-ā'bled, a. p. 670Disabled. [Obs.] Harrington.