Part 54

The quarrel, by that impact driven.

Southey.

2. (Mech.) The single instantaneous stroke of a body in motion against another either in motion or at rest.

Im*pact"ed (?), a. Driven together or close.

Impacted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the fragments are driven into each other so as to be immovable.

Im*pac"tion (?), n. [L. impactio a striking : cf. F. impaction.] 1. (Surg.) The driving of one fragment of bone into another so that the fragments are not movable upon each other; as, impaction of the skull or of the hip.

2. An immovable packing; (Med.), a lodgment of something in a strait or passage of the body; as, impaction of the fetal head in the strait of the pelvis; impaction of food or feces in the intestines of man or beast.

Im*paint" (?), v. t. To paint; to adorn with colors. [R.] "To impaint his cause." Shak.

Im*pair" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impaired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impairing.] [Written also empair.] [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.] To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind, value.

Time sensibly all things impairs.

Roscommon.

In years he seemed, but not impaired by years.

Pope.

Syn. -- To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.

Im*pair", v. t. To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.

Im"pair (?), a. [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.] Not fit or appropriate. [Obs.]

Im*pair" (?), n. Diminution; injury. [Obs.]

Im*pair"er (?), n. One who, or that which, impairs.

Im*pair"ment (?), n. [OE. enpeirement, OF. empirement.] The state of being impaired; injury. "The impairment of my health." Dryden.

Im*pal"a*ta*ble (?), a. Unpalatable. [R.]

Im*pale" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impaled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impaling.] [See 2d Empale.] 1. To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake. See Empale.

Then with what life remains, impaled, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake.

Addison.

2. To inclose, as with pales or stakes; to surround.

Impale him with your weapons round about.

Shak.

Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire.

Milton.