Part 69

Im*per"ti*nent (?), a. [F., fr. L. impertinens, -entis; pref. im- not + pertinens. See Pertinent.] 1. Not pertinent; not pertaining to the matter in hand; having no bearing on the subject; not to the point; irrelevant; inapplicable.

Things that are impertinent to us.

Tillotson.

How impertinent that grief was which served no end!

Jer. Taylor.

2. Contrary to, or offending against, the rules of propriety or good breeding; guilty of, or prone to, rude, unbecoming, or uncivil words or actions; as, an impertient coxcomb; an impertient remark.

3. Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.

Syn. -- Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly; meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent. -- Impertinent, Officious, Rude. A person is officious who obtrudes his offices or assistance where they are not needed; he is impertinent when he intermeddles in things with which he has no concern. The former shows a want of tact, the latter a want of breeding, or, more commonly, a spirit of sheer impudence. A person is rude when he violates the proprieties of social life either from ignorance or wantonness. "An impertinent man will ask questions for the mere gratification of curiosity; a rude man will burst into the room of another, or push against his person, inviolant of all decorum; one who is officious is quite as unfortunate as he is troublesome; when he strives to serve, he has the misfortune to annoy." Crabb. See Impudence, and Insolent.

Im*per"ti*nent, n. An impertinent person. [R.]

Im*per"ti*nent*ly, adv. In an impertinent manner. "Not to betray myself impertinently." B. Jonson.

Im`per*tran`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being impertransible. [R.]

Im`per*tran"si*ble (?), a. [L. pref. im- not + pertransire to go through. See Per- and Transient.] Incapable of being passed through. [R.]

Im`per*turb`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The state or quality of being imperturbable. [1913 Webster]

Im`per*turb"a*ble (?), a. [L. imperturbabilis; pref. im- not + perturbare to disturb: cf. F. imperturbable. See Perture.] Incapable of being disturbed or disconcerted; as, imperturbable gravity.

Im`per*turb"a*bly, adv. In an imperturbable manner; calmly. C. Bronté.

Im*per`tur*ba"tion (?), n. [L. imperturbatio.] Freedom from agitation of mind; calmness; quietude. W. Montagu.

Im`per*turbed" (?), a. Not perturbed.

Im*per`vi*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being imperviable.

Im*per"vi*a*ble (?), a. Not pervious; impervious. [R.] -- Im*per"vi*a*ble*ness, n. [R.]

Im*per"vi*ous (?), a. [L. impervius; pref. im- not + per through + via way. See Voyage.] Not pervious; not admitting of entrance or passage through; as, a substance impervious to water or air.

This gulf impassable, impervious.

Milton.

The minds of these zealots were absolutely impervious.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- Impassable; pathless; impenetrable; imperviable; impermeable.

-- Im*per"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- Im*per"vi*ous*ness, n.

Im"per*y (?), n. Empery. [Archaic] Joye.

Im*pest" (?), v. t. To affict with pestilence; to infect, as with plague. [Obs.]