Part 60

And doth impeach the freedom of the state.

Shak.

4. (Law) To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper.

When used in law with reference to a witness, the term signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a witness may be impeached by showing that he has made statements out of court contradictory to what he swears at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for veracity is bad, etc.

Syn. -- To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair; disparage; discredit. See Accuse.

Im*peach", n. Hindrance; impeachment. [Obs.]

Im*peach"a*ble (?), a. That may be impeached; liable to impeachment; chargeable with a crime.

Owners of lands in fee simple are not impeachable for waste.

Z. Swift.

Im*peach"er (?), n. One who impeaches.

Im*peach"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. empêchement.] The act of impeaching, or the state of being impeached; as: (a) Hindrance; impediment; obstruction. [Obs.]

Willing to march on to Calais, Without impeachment.

Shak.

(b) A calling to account; arraignment; especially, of a public officer for maladministration.

The consequence of Coriolanus' impeachment had like to have been fatal to their state.

Swift.

(c) A calling in question as to purity of motives, rectitude of conduct, credibility, etc.; accusation; reproach; as, an impeachment of motives. Shak.

In England, it is the privilege or right of the House of Commons to impeach, and the right of the House of Lords to try and determine impeachments. In the United States, it is the right of the House of Representatives to impeach, and of the Senate to try and determine impeachments.

Articles of impeachment. See under Article. -- Impeachment of waste (Law), restraint from, or accountability for, injury; also, a suit for damages for injury. Abbott.

Im*pearl" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impearled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impearling.] [Pref. im- in + pearl: cf. F. emperler.] 1. To form into pearls, or into that which resembles pearls. [Poetic]

Dewdrops which the sun Impearls on every leaf and every flower.

Milton.

2. To decorate as with pearls or with anything resembling pearls. [Poetic]

With morning dews impearled.

Mrs. Browning.

The dews of the morning impearl every thorn.

R. Digby.

Im*pec`ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. impeccabilité.] The quality of being impeccable; exemption from sin, error, or offense.