Imposture Im·pos"ture noun [ Latin impostura : confer French imposture . See Impone .] The act or conduct of an impostor; deception practiced under a false or assumed character; fraud or imposition; cheating.

From new legends
And fill the world with follies and impostures .

Johnson.

Syn. -- Cheat; fraud; trick; imposition; delusion.

Impostured Im·pos"tured adjective Done by imposture. [ Obsolete]

Imposturous Im·pos"tur·ous adjective Impostrous; deceitful.

Strictness fales and impostrous .

Beau. & Fl.

Impostury Im·pos"tur·y noun Imposture. [ Obsolete] Fuller.

Impotence, Impotency Im"po·tence, Im"po·ten·cy noun [ Latin impotenia inability, poverty, want of moderation. See Impotent .] 1. The quality or condition of being impotent; want of strength or power, animal, intellectual, or moral; weakness; feebleness; inability; imbecility.

Some were poor by impotency of nature; as young fatherless children, old decrepit persons, idiots, and cripples.

Hayward.

O, impotence of mind in body strong!

Milton.

2. Want of self-restraint or self- control. [ R.] Milton.

3. (Law & Med.) Want of procreative power; inability to copulate, or beget children; also, sometimes, sterility; barrenness.

Impotent Im"po·tent adjective [ French impotent , Latin impotens , -entis ; prefix im- not + potens potent, powerful. See Potent .] 1. Not potent; wanting power, strength. or vigor. whether physical, intellectual, or moral; deficient in capacity; destitute of force; weak; feeble; infirm.

There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent inhis feet.

Acts xiv. 8.

O most lame and impotent conclusion!

Shak.

Not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

Addison.

2. Wanting the power of self-restraint; incontrolled; ungovernable; violent.

Impotent of tongue, her silence broke.

Dryden.

3. (Medicine) Wanting the power of procreation; unable to copulate; also, sometimes, sterile; barren.

Impotent Im"po·tent noun One who is impotent. [ R.] Shak.

Impotently Im"po·tent·ly adverb In an impotent manner.

Impound Im·pound" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Impounded ; present participle & verbal noun Impounding .] To shut up or place in an inclosure called a pound ; hence, to hold in the custody of a court; as, to impound stray cattle; to impound a document for safe keeping.

But taken and impounded as a stray,
The king of Scots.

Shak.

Impoundage Im·pound"age (ĭm*pound"aj) noun 1. The act of impounding, or the state of being impounded.

2. The fee or fine for impounding.

Impounder Im·pound"er noun One who impounds.

Impoverish Im·pov"er·ish transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Impoverished ; present participle & verbal noun Impoverishing .] [ Old French empovrir ; prefix em- (L. in ) + povre poor, French pauvre ; confer Old French apovrir , French appauvrir , where the prefix is a- , Latin ad . Confer Empoverish , and see Poor , and -ish .] 1. To make poor; to reduce to poverty or indigence; as, misfortune and disease impoverish families.

2. To exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of; to make sterile; as, to impoverish land.

Impoverisher Im·pov"er·ish·er noun One who, or that which, impoverishes.

Impoverishment Im·pov"er·ish·ment noun [ Confer Old French empoverissement , and French appauvrissement .] The act of impoverishing, or the state of being impoverished; reduction to poverty. Sir W. Scott.

Impower Im·pow"er transitive verb See Empower .

Impracticability Im·prac`ti·ca·bil"i·ty noun ; plural Impracticabilities 1. The state or quality of being impracticable; infeasibility. Goldsmith.

2. An impracticable thing.

3. Intractableness; stubbornness.

Impracticable Im·prac"ti·ca·ble adjective 1. Not practicable; incapable of being performed, or accomplished by the means employed, or at command; impossible; as, an impracticable undertaking.

2. Not to be overcome, persuaded, or controlled by any reasonable method; unmanageable; intractable; not capable of being easily dealt with; -- used in a general sense, as applied to a person or thing that is difficult to control or get along with.

This though, impracticable heart
Is governed by a dainty-fingered girl.

Rowe.

Patriotic but loyal men went away disgusted afresh with the impracticable arrogance of a sovereign.

Palfrey.

3. Incapable of being used or availed of; as, an impracticable road; an impracticable method.

Syn. -- Impossible; infeasible. -- Impracticable , Impossible . A thing is impracticable when it can not be accomplished by any human means at present possessed; a thing is impossible when the laws of nature forbid it. The navigation of a river may now be impracticable , but not impossible , because the existing obstructions may yet be removed. "The barons exercised the most despotic authority over their vassals, and every scheme of public utility was rendered impracticable by their continued petty wars with each other." Mickle. "With men this is impossible , but with God all things are possible." Matt. xix. 26.

Impracticableness Im·prac"ti·ca·ble·ness noun The state or quality of being impracticable; impracticability.

Impracticably Im·prac"ti·ca·bly adverb In an impracticable manner.

Morality not impracticably rigid.

Johnson.

Impractical Im·prac"ti·cal adjective Not practical.

Imprecate Im"pre·cate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Imprecated ; present participle & verbal noun Imprecating .] [ Latin imprecatus , past participle of imprecari to imprecate; prefix im- in, on + precari to pray. See Pray .] 1. To call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous.

Imprecate the vengeance of Heaven on the guilty empire.

Mickle.

2. To invoke evil upon; to curse; to swear at.

In vain we blast the ministers of Fate,
And the forlorn physicians imprecate .

Rochester.

Imprecation Im`pre·ca"tion noun [ Latin imprecatio : confer French imprécation .] The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon any one; a prayer that a curse or calamity may fall on any one; a curse.

Men cowered like slaves before such horrid imprecations .

Motley.

Syn. -- Malediction; curse; execration; anathema. See Malediction .

Imprecatory Im"pre·ca·to·ry adjective Of the nature of, or containing, imprecation; invoking evil; as, the imprecatory psalms.

Imprecision Im`pre·ci"sion noun Want of precision. [ R.]

Impregn Im·pregn" transitive verb [ Confer French impregner . See Impregnate .] To impregnate; to make fruitful. [ Obsolete]

His pernicious words, impregned
With reason.

Milton.

Semele doth Bacchus bear
Impregned of Jove.

Dr. H. More.

Impregnability Im·preg`na·bil"i·ty noun The quality or state of being impregnable; invincibility.

Impregnable Im·preg"na·ble adjective [ French imprenable ; prefix im- not + prenable pregnable, from prendre to take, Latin prehendere . See Comprehend , Get to obtain.] Not to be stormed, or taken by assault; incapable of being subdued; able to resist attack; unconquerable; as, an impregnable fortress; impregnable virtue.

The man's affection remains wholly unconcerned and impregnable .

South.

-- Im*preg"na*ble*ness , noun -- Im*preg"na*bly , adverb

Impregnable Im·preg"na·ble adjective [ See Impregnate.] (Biol.) Capable of being impregnated, as the egg of an animal, or the ovule of a plant.

Impregnant Im·preg"nant noun [ See Impregnate .] That which impregnates. [ R.] Glanvill.

Impregnant Im·preg"nant adjective [ Prefix im- not + pregnant .] Not pregnant; unfertilized or infertile. [ R.]

Impregnate Im·preg"nate (ĭm*prĕg"nāt) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Impregnated (-na*tĕd); present participle & verbal noun Impregnating (-na*tĭng).] [ Late Latin impraegnatus , past participle of impraegnare to impregnate, from Latin prefix im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant .] 1. To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young.

2. (Biol.) To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate.

3. To infuse an active principle into; to render fruitful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue.

4. To infuse particles of another substance into; to communicate the quality of another to; to cause to be filled, imbued, mixed, or furnished (with something); as, to impregnate India rubber with sulphur; clothing impregnated with contagion; rock impregnated with ore.

Impregnate Im·preg"nate (ĭm*prĕg"nāt) intransitive verb To become pregnant. Addison.

Impregnate Im·preg"nate (-nat) adjective [ Late Latin impraegnatus , past participle ] Impregnated; made prolific.

The scorching ray
Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease.

Byron.

Impregnation Im`preg·na"tion noun [ Confer French imprégnation , Late Latin impraegnatio .] 1. The act of impregnating or the state of being impregnated; fecundation.

2. (Biol.) The fusion of a female germ cell (ovum) with a male germ cell (in animals, a spermatozoön) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation.

» In the broadest biological sense, impregnation, or sexual generation, consists simply in the coalescence of two similar masses of protoplasmic matter, either derived from different parts of the same organism or from two distinct organisms. From the single mass, which results from the fusion, or coalescence, of these two masses, a new organism develops.

3. That with which anything is impregnated. Derham.

4. Intimate mixture; infusion; saturation.

5. (Mining) An ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond.

Imprejudicate Im`pre·ju"di·cate adjective Not prejudged; unprejudiced; impartial. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Imprenable Im·pre"na·ble adjective Impregnable. [ Obsolete]

Impreparation Im·prep`a·ra"tion noun Want of preparation. [ Obsolete] Hooker.

Impresa Im·pre"sa (em*prā"sȧ) noun [ Italian See Emprise , and confer Impress , noun , 4.] (Her.) A device on a shield or seal, or used as a bookplate or the like. [ Written also imprese and impress .]

My impresa to your lordship; a swain
Flying to a laurel for shelter.

J. Webster.

Impresario Im`pre·sa"ri·o noun ; plural Impresarios . [ Italian , from impresa enterprise.] The projector, manager, or conductor, of an opera or concert company.

Imprescriptibility Im`pre·scrip`ti·bil"i·ty noun [ Confer French imprescriptibilité .] The quality of being imprescriptible.

Imprescriptible Im`pre·scrip"ti·ble adjective [ Prefix im- not + prescriptible : confer French imprescriptible .] 1. Not capable of being lost or impaired by neglect, by disuse, or by the claims of another founded on prescription.

The right of navigation, fishing, and others that may be exercised on the sea, belonging to the right of mere ability, are imprescriptible .

Vattel (Trans. )

2. Not derived from, or dependent on, external authority; self-evidencing; obvious.

The imprescriptible laws of the pure reason.

Colerridge.

Imprescriptibly Im`pre·scrip"ti·bly adverb In an imprescriptible manner; obviously.

Imprese Im·prese" noun A device. See 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.

Impress Im·press" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Impressed ; present participle & verbal noun Impressing .] [ Latin impressus , past participle of imprimere to impress; prefix im- in, on + premere to press. See Press to squeeze, and confer Imprint .] 1. To press, stamp, or print something in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as by pressure; to imprint (that which bears the impression).

His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed .

Shak.

2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to imprint (a mark or figure upon something).

3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate.

Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them.

I. Watts.

4. [ See Imprest , Impress , noun , 5.] To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors or money.

The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sick and wounded prisoners.

Evelyn.

Impress Im·press" intransitive verb To be impressed; to rest. [ Obsolete]

Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress .

Chaucer.

Impress Im"press noun ; plural Impresses 1. The act of impressing or making.

2. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of anything, formed by pressure or as if by pressure; result produced by pressure or influence.

The impresses of the insides of these shells.

Woodward.

This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice.

Shak.

3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp. South.

4. A device. See Impresa . Cussans.

To describe . . . emblazoned shields,
Impresses quaint.

Milton.

5. [ See Imprest , Press to force into service.] The act of impressing, or taking by force for the public service; compulsion to serve; also, that which is impressed.

Why such impress of shipwrights?

Shak.

Impress gang , a party of men, with an officer, employed to impress seamen for ships of war; a press gang. -- Impress money , a sum of money paid, immediately upon their entering service, to men who have been impressed.

Impressibility Im·press`i·bil"i·ty noun The quality of being impressible; susceptibility.

Impressible Im·press"i·ble adjective [ Confer French impressible .] Capable of being impressed; susceptible; sensitive. -- Im*press"i*ble*ness , noun -- Im*press"i*bly , adverb

Impression Im·pres"sion noun [ French impression , Latin impressio .] 1. The act of impressing, or the state of being impressed; the communication of a stamp, mold, style, or character, by external force or by influence.

2. That which is impressed; stamp; mark; indentation; sensible result of an influence exerted from without.

The stamp and clear impression of good sense.

Cowper.

To shelter us from impressions of weather, we must spin, we must weave, we must build.

Barrow.

3. That which impresses, or exercises an effect, action, or agency; appearance; phenomenon. [ Obsolete]

Portentous blaze of comets and impressions in the air.

Milton.

A fiery impression falling from out of Heaven.

Holland.

4. Influence or effect on the senses or the intellect hence, interest, concern. Reid.

His words impression left.

Milton.

Such terrible impression made the dream.

Shak.

I have a father's dear impression ,
And wish, before I fall into my grave,
That I might see her married.

Ford.

5. An indistinct notion, remembrance, or belief.

6. Impressiveness; emphasis of delivery.

Which must be read with an impression .

Milton.

7. (Print.) The pressure of the type on the paper, or the result of such pressure, as regards its appearance; as, a heavy impression ; a clear, or a poor, impression ; also, a single copy as the result of printing, or the whole edition printed at a given time.

Ten impressions which his books have had.

Dryden.

8. In painting, the first coat of color, as the priming in house painting and the like. [ R.]

9. (Engraving) A print on paper from a wood block, metal plate, or the like.

Proof impression , one of the early impressions taken from an engraving, before the plate or block is worn.

Impressionability Im·pres`sion·a·bil"i·ty noun The quality of being impressionable.

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