impatible 
impatiblet (im-pat'i-bl), a. [= It. impatibile, 
< L. impat'MHs, inpatibilis, impetibilis, inpeti- 
bilis, < in- priv. + pati, suffer: see passion.] 
1. Incapable of being borne or endured; in- 
tolerable. Cockeram. 2. Incapable of suffer- 
ing ; impassible. 
A spirit, and so impatible of material flre. Fuller. 
Thus you see what be the powers and faculties of the 
soul of this universality, . . . entring into the frail, mor- 
tat, and passible instruments of bodies, however they be 
in themselves incorruptible, impatible, and the same. 
Holland, tr. of Plutarch, p. 854. 
impatience (im-pa'shens), . [< ME. impatience, 
inpacience, < OF. impatience, impascience, F. im- 
patience = Pr. inpacientia = Sp. Pg. impatientia 
= It. impazienza, impaziensia, < L. impatien- 
tia, inpatientia, impatience, < impatien(t-)s, in- 
patien(t-)s, impatient : see impatient.] 1. The 
state or character of lacking patience; rest- 
lessness under existing conditions; eager de- 
sire for relief or change. 
Impatience makes an ague to be a fever, and every fever 
to be a calenture. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 252. 
The longer I continued in this scene, the greater was my 
impatience of retiring from it. Sp. Hurd. 
2. Intolerance of anything that thwarts or 
hinders ; passionate vehemence ; in a milder 
sense, quickness of temper ; touchiness. 
Your fierce impatience f orc'd us from your presence, 
Urg'd us to speed, and bade us banish pity. 
Johnson, Irene, v. 11. 
His bloody sword he brandish'd over me, 
And, like a hungry lion, did commence 
Hough deeds of rage and stern impatience. 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., iv. 7. 
iinpatiencyt (im-pa'shen-si), n. Same as im- 
patience. 
With some impatiency he bare the length of his oration. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, v. 
With what impatiency 
Of grief we parted ! 
Masringer, Great Duke of Florence, v. 8. 
Impatiens (im-pa'shi-enz), n. [NL. use (re- 
ferring to the elasticity of the valves of the 
seed-pod, which discharge the seeds when ripe 
or when touched) of L. impatiens, impatient: 
see impatient.] A genus of annual plants of 
the natural order Geraniacem and tribe Bal- 
saminece, having curious irregular flowers, in 
which the calyx and corolla are colored alike 
and are not clearly distinguishable. The sepals 
are apparently 4 in number ; the anterior one (apparently 
interior as the flower hangs on its stalk) is largest and 
forms a spurred sack. The petals are 2 in number, un- 
equal-sided and 2-lobed ; the stamens 5, and short ; and 
the pod has 5 valves, which coil elastically and project the 
seeds in bursting, whence the popular names snapweed 
and touch-me-not. Besides the above described flowers, 
there are other inconspicuous ones that are fertilized in 
the bud. About 135 species are known, of which 2 are 
North American, 3 European or North Asian, 20 African, 
and the rest from tropical Asia, known as balmm and jew- 
el-weed. The American species are /. pallida, the pale 
touch-me-not, and 1. fulva, the spotted touch-me-not. 
(.See cut under balsam.) The latter has become natu- 
ralized in England. The common European species is 
/. Noli-me-tangere, the yellow balsam, touch-me-not, or 
quick-in-hand. I. balsamina is much grown for the beau- 
ty of its flowers, and is well known as a highly ornamen- 
tal annual by the names garden-balsam anfilady's-slipper. 
impatient (im-pa'shent), a. and n. [< ME. im- 
patient, < OF. impatient, F. impatient = Pr. in- 
patient = Sp. Pg. impaciente = It. impaziente, < 
L. impatien(t-)s, inpatien( t-)x, that cannot or will 
not bear or endure, impatient, < j-priv. +pa- 
tien(t-)s, bearing, enduring, suffering: see pa- 
tient.] I. a. 1. Not patient; not bearing or en- 
during with composure or patience; uneasy 
under existing conditions, and eager for relief 
or change ; excited by opposition or the thwart- 
ing of one's desires ; quick-tempered. 
You are of an impatient spirit, and an impatient spirit 
is never without woe. Steele, Spectator, No. 438. 
The impatient man will not give himself time to be in- 
formed of the matter that lies before him. 
Addison, Spectator. 
So she, impatient her own faults to see, 
Turns from herself, and in strange things delights. 
Sir J. Davits, Immortal, of Soul (ed. 1819), Int. 
2. Intolerant ; non-endurant ; resistant : as, 
impatient of control. 
Impatient of any interruptions, he spent the whole of 
his time that could be spared from the duties of his par- 
ish in reading and writing. Bp. Hurd, Warburton. 
Peltigera venosa, perhaps always less impatient of cold, 
was particularly fine. 
Tuckerman, Genera Lichenum, p. 38. 
3. Prompted by or springing from impatience ; 
exhibiting or expressing impatience : as, an im- 
patient manner. 
What, will you tear 
Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? 
Shak., II. N. D., ill. i. 
3004 
To assuage 
Th' impatient fervour. Cowpcr, Task, iii. 502. 
4f. Not to be borne ; intolerable. 
Ay me ! deare Lady, which the ymage art 
Of ruefull pitty and impatient smart. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 44. 
=Syn. 1 and 3. Eestless, unquiet, hasty, eager, precipi- 
tate, impetuous, vehement. 
II. n. One who lacks patience. [Bare.] 
I have heard and seen some ignorant impatient*, when 
they have found themselves to smart with God's scourge, 
cast a sullen frown back upon him with " cur me csedis?" 
Seasonable Sermons, p. 89. 
impatiently (im-pa ' shent-li), adv. In an im- 
patient manner; with impatience, uneasiness, 
or restlessness ; intolerantly. 
impatront, * [< OF. impatroner = It. impa- 
dronire, put in possession of, make master of ; 
as in- 2 + patron.] To put in possession; in- 
vest with power. 
He ... impatroned himselfe with three peeces of ordi- 
nance, which he caused to be haled into the Tower. 
Remarkable Occurrences in the Jfortherne Parts (IM2), 
[p. 10. 
impatronizationt (im-pa'tron-i-za'shon), n. 
[= F. impatronisation; as imp'atronize + -ation.] 
Absolute seigniory or possession; the act of 
putting into full possession, as of a benefice. 
impatronizet, empatronizet (im-, em-pa'tron- 
lz), v. t. [As impatron + -ize.] Same as im- 
patron. 
They [the Spaniards] have now twice sought to impa- 
tronize themselves of this kingdom of England. 
Bacon, War with Spain. 
His father Lewis . . . did impatroniie himselfe upon 
the duchie of Burgondie and earldome of Artoys. 
Fenton, Guicciardin (1599). 
impave (im-pav'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. ii _, . , 
ppr. impaving. [< ire- 2 + pave.] To pave in; 
form in a pavement. [Rare.] 
Climbing a tall tower, 
There saw, impaved, with rude fidelity 
Of art mosaic, in a roofless floor, 
An Eagle with stretched wings, but beamless eye. 
Wordsworth, On Revisiting Dunolly Castle. 
impavid (im-pav'id), a. [= Sp. impdvido = Pg. 
It. impavido, < L. impavidus, fearless, < in- priv. 
+ pavidm, fearing: see pavid.] Fearless; un- 
daunted; intrepid. [Bare.] 
Placid Lord Ullin received the news by telegraph ; . . . 
he put the message into his pocket without remark, and 
won the rubber before he rose. . . . /mpawidastheHora- 
tian model-man. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, xviii. 
impavidly (im-pav'id-li), adv. In an impavid 
manner; fearlessly; undauntedly; intrepidly. 
Thackeray. [Rare.] 
impawn (im-pan' ), v. t. [Formerly also empawn; 
= Sp. empenar = Pg. empenhar = It. impegnare; 
as n- 2 + pawnl.] To put in pawn; pledge; 
deposit as security. 
Go to the king ; and let there be impawn'd 
Some surety for a safe return again. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 3. 
Alas I what comfort is there left for me, 
If those dear jewels be impawn'd to thee. 
Dekker and Webster (?), Weakest Goeth to the Wall, ii. 3. 
A wise man will never impawn his future being and 
action, and decide beforehand what he shall do in a given 
extreme event Nature and God will instruct him in that 
hour. Emerson, War. 
impeach (im-pech'), v. t. [Formerly also em- 
peach, empeche; < ME. empeclien, empeshenC>im- 
pesli, q. v.), < OF. empesclier, empeescher (ML. re- 
flex impechiare), F. empfclier, hinder, stop, bar, 
appar. = Pr. empedeaar, < ML. impedicare, inpe- 
dicare, catch, entangle, lit. fetter, < L. in, in, 
+ pedica, a fetter, < pe(d~)s, foot (see foot), 
but mixed in sense with OF. empacher = Pr. 
empaichar, empaitar, enpazar, empechar = Sp. 
empachar = Pg. empachar, overload, = It. im- 
pactiare, delay, appar. < ML. as if "impactiare, 
< L. impingere, pp. impacttis, strike against, fas- 
ten upon, fasten: see impact, impinge. The same 
radical elements are involved in depeach, des- 
patch, q. v. Hence, by variation, appeach, and, 
by apheresis of this, peach%, q. v.] It. To hin- 
der; impede. 
Empeche his head, his face ; have at his gorge ; 
Beare at the breste, or sperne him one the side. 
Knyghthode and Batayle, quoted in Strutt's Sports and 
[Pastimes, p. 185. 
Swelling throbs empeach 
His foltring toung with pangs of drerinesse. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 11. 
The Scots were assembled ... to impeach the passage 
of our said army. 
Exped. in Scotland (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 116). 
2. To call in question; accuse of wrong or 
error; bring discredit on; disparage; accuse: 
as, to impeach one's motives; to impeach the 
credit of a witness. 
impeachment 
He . . . doth impeach the freedom of the state 
If they deny him justice. Shak., M. of V., iii. 2. 
I doubt not of your generosity, but people unacquainted 
with your temper impeach you with avarice. 
Gentleman Instructed, p. 535. 
To speak favourably of a character you have oppressed 
would be impeaching your own. 
Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, iii. 
3. Specifically, to prefer charges of official 
misconduct against, before a competent tribu- 
nal ; bring to account by trial for malfeasance 
in office. See impeachment, 3. 
And arm'd with Truth impeach'd the Don 
Of his enormous Crimes. 
Prior, The Viceroy, vi. 
In regard to the President, it was their duty to make a 
specific charge, to investigate it openly, and to impeach 
him before the Senate, if the evidence afforded reasonable 
ground to believe that the charge could be substantiated. 
6. T. Curtis, Buchanan, II. 247. 
The impeached minister, like the king who is put on his 
trial, when he has become weak enough to be impeached, 
may remain too strong to be acquitted. 
Stubbs, Const. Hist., 371. 
4. To call to account ; charge as answerable. 
The first donee in tail may commit waste without be- 
ing impeached. %- Swift. 
TO Impeach a Witness, to adduce evidence intended 
to meet the testimony of the witness by showing him to 
be unworthy of credit. = Syn. Charge, Indict, etc. See 
accuse. 
impeacht (im-pech'), M. [< impeach, v.] Same 
as impeachment. 
If they may (without impeach) enjoy their wills, no 
quieter creatures under heaven. 
Chapman, All Fools, iii. 1. 
Ourself 
Will here sit by, spectator of your sports ; 
And think it no impeach of royalty. 
B. Jonson, Poetaster, v. 1. 
impeachable (im-pe'cha-bl), a. [< OF. em- 
peehable, empeschable, tti'at may be arrested; 
as impeach + -able.] Liable or making liable to 
be impeached ; chargeable with wrongdoing ; 
censurable ; liable to be called in question. 
Had God omitted by positive laws to give religion to the 
world, the wisdom of his providence had been impeach- 
able. Grew. 
Owners of lands in fee simple are not impeachable for . 
waste. Z. Swift. 
The impeachable offences are " treason, bribery, or other 
high crimes or misdemeanors." 
J. Buchanan, in Curtis, II. 255. 
impeacher (im-pe'cher), . If. One who or 
that which impeaches or hinders. 
So that instead of finding Prelaty an impeacher of schism 
or faction, the more I search, the more I grow into all 
persuasion to think rather faction and she, as with a spou- 
sal ring, are wedded together, never to be divorc'd. 
Milton, Church-Government, i. a. 
2. One who brings or institutes an impeach- 
ment ; an accuser. 
impeachment (im-pech'ment), n. [< OF. em- 
peschement (ML. reflex impechiamentum), F. em- 
pechement, hindrance, < empescher, hinder: see 
impeach.] 1. Hindrance; impediment; obstruc- 
tion. [Obsolete except in law. See impeach- 
ment of waste, below.] 
I do not seek him now ; 
But could be willing to march on to Calais 
Without impeachment. Shak., Hen. V., iii. 6. 
The Earl of Warwick, having Notice that his Father the 
Earl of Salisbury was upon march to meet him, passeth 
over his Men, and, without Impeachment, joined with him 
and his Friends near Exeter. Baker, Chronicles, p. 198. 
2. A calling in question ; accusation of wrong 
or error; disparagement: as, an impeachment 
of one's motives or conduct, or of the credi- 
bility of a witness. 
To let him spend his time no more at home, 
Which would be great impeachment to his age. 
Shak., 1. G. of V., i. 3. 
Without any impeachment of the prosperous operation 
of our system, prejudices may arise between the different 
sections of the country, etc. Everett, Orations, I. 201. 
3. A calling to account ; arraignment ; the act 
of charging with a crime or misdemeanor: 
specifically, the exhibition of charges of mal- 
administration against a high public officer 
before a competent tribunal. In the United States, 
the House of Representatives has the sole power of im- 
peachment of the President, Vice-President, and all civil 
officersof the United States; the Senatehas the sole power 
to try all impeachments, the Chief Justice presiding at the 
trial of a President ; and a two-thirds vote is necessary 
for conviction. In the case of State officers, there is gen- 
erally a similar division of functions between the upper 
and the lower branch of the legislature. In the history of 
the federal government there have been seven cases of im- 
peachment, the most famous being that of President John- 
son in 1868. In only two cases, both of district judges, was 
a verdict of guilty given. In Great Britain, impeachments 
are made in the House of Commons and tried by the House 
of Lords. Prominent impeachments in English history 
were those of Lord Bacon and Warren Hastings. 
