Part 62

Im"pe*di"tion (?), n. [L. impeditio.] A hindering; a hindrance. [Obs.] Baxier.

Im*ped"i*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. impéditif.] Causing hindrance; impeding. "Cumbersome, and impeditive of motion." Bp. Hall.

Im*pel" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impelling.] [L. impellere; pref. im- in + pellere, pulsum, to drive. See Pulse a beat, and cf. Impulse.] To drive or urge forward or on; to press on; to incite to action or motion in any way.

The surge impelled me on a craggy coast.

Pope.

Syn. -- To instigate; incite; induce; influence; force; drive; urge; actuate; move.

Im*pel"lent (?), a. [L. impellens, p. pr. of impellere.] Having the quality of impelling.

Im*pel"lent, n. An impelling power or force. Glanvill.

Im*pel"ler (?), n. One who, or that which, impels.

Im*pen" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impenned (?) and Impent (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Impenning.] To shut up or inclose, as in a pen. Feltham.

Im*pend" (?), v. t. [L. impendre; pref. im- in + pendre to weigh out, pay.] To pay. [Obs.] Fabyan.

Im*pend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Impended; p. pr. & vb. n. Impending.] [L. impendre; pref. im- in + pendre to hang. See Pendant.] To hang over; to be suspended above; to threaten from near at hand; to menace; to be imminent. See Imminent.

Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends.

Pope.

{ Im*pend"ence (?), Im*pend"en*cy (?), } n. The state of impending; also, that which impends. "Impendence of volcanic cloud." Ruskin.

Im*pend"ent (?), a. [L. impendens, p. pr. of impendre.] Impending; threatening.

Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall.

Milton.

Im*pend"ing, a. Hanging over; overhanging; suspended so as to menace; imminet; threatening.

An impending brow.

Hawthorne.

And nodding Ilion waits th' impending fall.

Pope.

Syn. -- Imminent; threatening. See Imminent.

Im*pen`e*tra*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. impénétrabilité.] 1. Quality of being impenetrable.

2. (Physics) That property in virtue of which two portions of matter can not at the same time occupy the same portion of space.

3. Insusceptibility of intellectual or emotional impression; obtuseness; stupidity; coldness.

Im*pen"e*tra*ble (?), a. [L. impenetrabilis; pref. im- not + penetrabilis penetrable: cf. F. impénétrable.] 1. Incapable of being penetrated or pierced; not admitting the passage of other bodies; not to be entered; impervious; as, an impenetrable shield.