Part 85

Dr. H. More.

Im*preg`na*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being impregnable; invincibility.

Im*preg"na*ble (?), a. [F. imprenable; pref. im- not + prenable pregnable, fr. prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Comprehend, Get to obtain.] Not to be stormed, or taken by assault; incapable of being subdued; able to resist attack; unconquerable; as, an impregnable fortress; impregnable virtue.

The man's affection remains wholly unconcerned and impregnable.

South.

-- Im*preg"na*ble*ness, n. -- Im*preg"na*bly, adv.

Im*preg"na*ble (?), a. [See Impregnate.] (Biol.) Capable of being impregnated, as the egg of an animal, or the ovule of a plant.

Im*preg"nant (?), n. [See Impregnate.] That which impregnates. [R.] Glanvill.

Im*preg"nant, a. [Pref. im- not + pregnant.] Not pregnant; unfertilized or infertile. [R.]

Im*preg"nate (m*prg"nt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impregnated (-n*td); p. pr. & vb. n. Impregnating (-n*tng).] [LL. impraegnatus, p. p. of impraegnare to impregnate, fr. L. pref. im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant.] 1. To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young.

2. (Biol.) To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate.

3. To infuse an active principle into; to render fruitful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue.

4. To infuse particles of another substance into; to communicate the quality of another to; to cause to be filled, imbued, mixed, or furnished (with something); as, to impregnate India rubber with sulphur; clothing impregnated with contagion; rock impregnated with ore.

Im*preg"nate (m*prg"nt), v. i. To become pregnant. Addison.

Im*preg"nate (-nt), a. [LL. impraegnatus, p. p.] Impregnated; made prolific.

The scorching ray Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease.

Byron.

Im`preg*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. imprégnation, LL. impraegnatio.] 1. The act of impregnating or the state of being impregnated; fecundation.

2. (Biol.) The fusion of a female germ cell (ovum) with a male germ cell (in animals, a spermatozoön) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation.

In the broadest biological sense, impregnation, or sexual generation, consists simply in the coalescence of two similar masses of protoplasmic matter, either derived from different parts of the same organism or from two distinct organisms. From the single mass, which results from the fusion, or coalescence, of these two masses, a new organism develops.

3. That with which anything is impregnated. Derham.

4. Intimate mixture; infusion; saturation.

5. (Mining) An ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond.

Im`pre*ju"di*cate (?), a. Not prejudged; unprejudiced; impartial. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Im*pre"na*ble (?), a. Impregnable. [Obs.]

Im*prep`a*ra"tion (?), n. Want of preparation. [Obs.] Hooker.

||Im*pre"sa (m*pr"s), n. [It. See Emprise, and cf. Impress, n., 4.] ||(Her.) A device on a shield or seal, or used as a bookplate or the ||like. [Written also imprese and impress.] || My impresa to your lordship; a swain Flying to a laurel for shelter.

J. Webster.