Part 81

Im*pos`si*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Impossibilities (#). [L. impossibilitas: cf. F. impossibilité.] 1. The quality of being impossible; impracticability.

They confound difficulty with impossibility.

South.

2. An impossible thing; that which can not be thought, done, or endured.

Impossibilities! O, no, there's none.

Cowley.

3. Inability; helplessness. [R.] Latimer.

Logical impossibility, a condition or statement involving contradiction or absurdity; as, that a thing can be and not be at the same time. See Principle of Contradiction, under Contradiction.

Im*pos"si*ble (?), a. [F., fr. L. impossibilis; pref. im- not + possibilis possible. See Possible.] Not possible; incapable of being done, of existing, etc.; unattainable in the nature of things, or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable; not feasible.

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matt. xix. 26.

Without faith it is impossible to please him.

Heb. xi. 6.

Impossible quantity (Math.), an imaginary quantity. See Imaginary.

Syn. -- See Impracticable.

Im*pos"si*ble, n. An impossibility. [Obs.]

"Madam," quoth he, "this were an impossible!"

Chaucer.

Im*pos"si*bly, adv. Not possibly. Sir. T. North.

Im"post (?), n. [OF. impost, F. impot, LL. impostus, fr. L. impostus, p. p. of imponere to impose. See Impone.] 1. That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; especially, a duty or tax laid by goverment on goods imported into a country.

Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost.

Macaulay.

2. (Arch.) The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.

The impost is called continuous, if the moldings of the arch or architrave run down the jamb or pier without a break.

Syn. -- Tribute; excise; custom; duty; tax.

Im*post"hu*mate (?), v. t. [See Imposthume.] To apostemate; to form an imposthume or abscess. Arbuthnot.

Im*post"hu*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imposthumated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Imposthumating (?).] To affect with an imposthume or abscess.

Im*post"hu*mate (?), a. Imposthumated.