Imperfect - Impetus

Prev Next

Imperfect (ĭmpẽrfĕkt), n. (Gram.) The imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the imperfect tense.
[ Webster]

Imperfect, v. t. To make imperfect. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Imperfectibility (?), n. The state or quality of being imperfectible. [R.]
[ Webster]

Imperfectible (?), a. Incapable of being made perfect. [R.]
[ Webster]

Imperfection (?), n. [L. imperfectio: cf. F. imperfection. See , a.] The quality or condition of being imperfect; lack of perfection; incompleteness; deficiency; fault or blemish.
[ Webster]

Sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head. Shak.

Syn. -- Defect; deficiency; incompleteness; fault; failing; weakness; frailty; foible; blemish; vice.
[ Webster]

Imperfectness, n. The state of being imperfect.
[ Webster]

Imperforable (?), a. [See .] Incapable of being perforated, or bored through.
[ Webster]

Imperforata (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Zoöl.) A division of Foraminifera, including those in which the shell is not porous.

{ Imperforate (?), Imperforated (?), } a. [L. pref. im- not + perforatus, p. p. of perforate to perforate. See .] Not perforated; having no opening or aperture. Sir J. Banks.
[ Webster]

Imperforation (?), n. [Cf. F. imperforation.] The state of being without perforation.
[ Webster]

Imperial (?), a. [OE. emperial, OF. emperial, F. impérial, fr. L. imperialis, fr. imperium command, sovereignty, empire. See .] 1. Of or pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict.
[ Webster]

The last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Belonging to, or suitable to, supreme authority, or one who wields it; royal; sovereign; supreme. “The imperial democracy of Athens.” Mitford.
[ Webster]

Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns
With an imperial voice. Shak.
[ Webster]

To tame the proud, the fetter'd slave to free,
These are imperial arts, and worthy thee. Dryden.
[ Webster]

He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E. Everett.
[ Webster]

3. Of superior or unusual size or excellence; as, imperial paper; imperial tea, etc.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Imperial bushel , Coloq. gallon , etc. See , , etc. -- Coloq. Imperial chamber , the, the sovereign court of the old German empire. -- Coloq. Imperial city , under the first German empire, a city having no head but the emperor. -- Coloq. Imperial diet , an assembly of all the states of the German empire. -- Coloq. Imperial drill . (Manuf.) See under 8th . -- Coloq. Imperial eagle . (Zoöl.) See . -- Coloq. Imperial green . See Paris green, under . -- Coloq. Imperial guard , the royal guard instituted by Napoleon I. -- Coloq. Imperial weights and measures , the standards legalized by the British Parliament.
[ Webster]

Imperial, n. [F. impériale: cf. Sp. imperial.]
[ Webster]

1. The tuft of hair on a man's lower lip and chin; -- so called from the style of beard of Napoleon III.
[ Webster]

2. An outside seat on a diligence. T. Hughes.
[ Webster]

3. A luggage case on the top of a coach. Simmonds.
[ Webster]

4. Anything of unusual size or excellence, as a large decanter, a kind of large photograph, a large sheet of drawing, printing, or writing paper, etc.
[ Webster]

5. A gold coin of Russia worth ten rubles, or about eight dollars. McElrath.
[ Webster]

6. A kind of fine cloth brought into England from Greece. or other Eastern countries, in the Middle Ages.
[ Webster]

7. A game at cards differing from piquet in some minor details, and in having a trump; also, any one of several combinations of cards which score in this game.
[Webster Suppl.]

Imperialism (?), n. 1. The power or character of an emperor; imperial authority; the spirit of empire.
[ Webster]

Roman imperialism had divided the world. C. H. Pearson.
[ Webster]

2. The policy, practice, or advocacy of seeking, or acquiescing in, the extension of the control, dominion, or empire of a nation, as by the acquirement of new, esp. distant, territory or dependencies, or by the closer union of parts more or less independent of each other for operations of war, copyright, internal commerce, etc. The practise of building or extending an empire.
[Webster Suppl. +PJC]

The tide of English opinion began to turn about 1870, and since then it has run with increasing force in the direction of what is called imperialism. James Bryce.
[Webster Suppl.]

Imperialist, n. [Cf. F. impérialiste.] One who serves an emperor; one who favors imperialism.
[ Webster]

imperialistic, n. Of, pertaining to, or advocating imperialism.
[PJC]

Imperiality (?), n.; pl. Imperialities (�).
[ Webster]

1. Imperial power.
[ Webster]

2. An imperial right or privilegs. See .
[ Webster]

The late empress having, by ukases of grace, relinquished her imperialities on the private mines, viz., the tenths of the copper, iron, silver and gold. W. Tooke.
[ Webster]

Imperialize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imperialized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Imperializing (?).] To invest with imperial authority, character, or style; to bring to the form of an empire. Fuller.
[ Webster]

Imperially, adv. In an imperial manner.
[ Webster]

Imperially (?), n. Imperial power. [R.] Sheldon.
[ Webster]

Imperil (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imperiled (?) or Imperilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Imperiling or Imperilling.] To bring into peril; to endanger.
[ Webster]

Imperilment (?), n. The act of imperiling, or the state of being imperiled.
[ Webster]

Imperious (?), a. [L. imperiosus: cf. F. impérieux. See .] 1. Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [Obs.] “A vast and imperious mind.” Tilloison.
[ Webster]

Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,
Imperious. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Haughly; arrogant; overbearing; as, an imperious tyrant; an imperious manner.
[ Webster]

This imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages. Shak.
[ Webster]

His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

3. Imperative; urgent; compelling.
[ Webster]

Imperious need, which can not be withstood. Dryden.

Syn. -- Dictatorial; haughty; domineering; overbearing; lordly; tyrannical; despotic; arrogant; imperative; authoritative; commanding; pressing. -- , , . One who is imperious exercises his authority in a manner highly offensive for its spirit and tone; one who is lordly assumes a lofty air in order to display his importance; one who is domineering gives orders in a way to make others feel their inferiority.
[ Webster]

Imperiously, adv. In an imperious manner.
[ Webster]

Imperiousness, n. The quality or state of being imperious; arrogance; haughtiness.
[ Webster]

Imperiousness and severity is but an ill way of treating men who have reason of their own to guide them. Locke.
[ Webster]

Imperishability (?), n. The quality of being imperishable: indstructibility. “The imperishability of the universe.” Milman.
[ Webster]

Imperishable (?), a. [Pref. im- not + perishable: cf. F. impérissable.] Not perishable; not subject to decay; indestructible; enduring permanently; as, an imperishable monument; imperishable renown. -- Imperishableness, n. -- Imperishably, adv.
[ Webster]

Imperium (?), n.; pl. Imperia (#). [L. See .] 1. Supreme power; absolute dominion; empire.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. (Law) The right to command, which includes the right to employ the force of the state to enforce the laws. It is one of the principal attributes of the executive power.
[Webster Suppl.]

Imperiwigged (?), a. Wearing a periwig.

{ Impermanence (?), Impermanency (?), } n. Lack of permanence.
[ Webster]

Impermanent (?), a. Not permanent.
[ Webster]

Impermeability (?), n. [Pref. im- not + permeability: cf. F. imperméabilité.] The quality of being impermeable.
[ Webster]

Impermeable (?), a. [Pref. im- not + permeable: cf. F. imperméable, L. impermeabilis.] Not permeable; not permitting passage, as of a fluid. through its substance; impervious; impenetrable; as, India rubber is impermeable to water and to air. -- Impermeableness, n. -- Impermeably, adv.
[ Webster]

Impermissible (?), a. Not permissible.
[ Webster]

Imperscrutable (?), a. [L. imperscrutabilis.] Not capable of being searched out; inscrutable. [Obs.] -- Imperscrutableness, n. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Imperseverant (?), a. Not persevering; fickle; thoughtless. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Impersonal (?), a. [L. impersonalis; pref. im- not + personalis personal: cf. F. impersonnel. See .] Not personal; not representing a person; not having personality.
[ Webster]

An almighty but impersonal power, called Fate. Sir J. Stephen.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Impersonal verb (Gram.), a verb used with an indeterminate subject, commonly, in English, with the impersonal pronoun it; as, it rains; it snows; methinks (it seems to me). Many verbs which are not strictly impersonal are often used impersonally; as, it goes well with him.
[ Webster]

Impersonal, n. That which wants personality; specifically (Gram.), an impersonal verb.
[ Webster]

Impersonality (?), n. The quality of being impersonal; want or absence of personality.
[ Webster]

Impersonally (?), adv. In an impersonal manner.
[ Webster]

Impersonate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impersonated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impersonating.] 1. To invest with personality; to endow with the form of a living being.
[ Webster]

2. To ascribe the qualities of a person to; to personify.
[ Webster]

3. To assume, or to represent, the person or character of; to personate; as, he impersonated Macbeth.
[ Webster]

Benedict impersonated his age. Milman.

{ Impersonation (?), Impersonification (?), } n. The act of impersonating; personification; investment with personality; representation in a personal form.
[ Webster]

Impersonator (?), n. One who impersonates; an actor; a mimic.
[ Webster]

Imperspicuity (?), n. Lack of perspicuity or clearness; vagueness; ambiguity.
[ Webster]

Imperspicuous (?), a. Not perspicuous; not clear; obscure; vague; ambiguous.
[ Webster]

Impersuadable (?), a. [Cf. .] Not to be persuaded; obstinate; unyielding; impersuasible. -- Impersuadableness, n.
[ Webster]

Impersuasible (?), a. [Pref. im- not + persuasible: cf. OF. impersuasible.] Not persuasible; not to be moved by persuasion; inflexible; impersuadable. Dr. H. More. -- Impersuasibility (#), n.
[ Webster]

Impertinence (?), n. [Cf. F. impertinence. See .] 1. The condition or quality of being impertinent; absence of pertinence, or of adaptedness; irrelevance; unfitness.
[ Webster]

2. Conduct or language unbecoming the person, the society, or the circumstances; rudeness; incivility.
[ Webster]

We should avoid the vexation and impertinence of pedants who affect to talk in a language not to be understood. Swift.
[ Webster]

3. That which is impertinent; a thing out of place, or of no value.
[ Webster]

There are many subtile impertinences learned in schools. Watts.
[ Webster]

Impertinency (?), n. Impertinence. [R.]
[ Webster]

O, matter and impertinency mixed!
Reason in madness! Shak.
[ Webster]

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

Things that are impertinent to us. Tillotson.
[ Webster]

How impertinent that grief was which served no end! Jer. Taylor.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

3. Trifing; inattentive; frivolous.

Syn. -- Rude; officious; intrusive; saucy; unmannerly; meddlesome; disrespectful; impudent; insolent. -- , , . 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 lack of tact, the latter a lack 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 , and .
[ Webster]

Impertinent, n. An impertinent person. [R.]
[ Webster]

Impertinently, adv. In an impertinent manner. “Not to betray myself impertinently.” B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Impertransibility (?), n. The quality or state of being impertransible. [R.]
[ Webster]

Impertransible (?), a. [L. pref. im- not + pertransire to go through. See and .] Incapable of being passed through. [R.]
[ Webster]

Imperturbability (?), n. The state or quality of being imperturbable.
[ Webster]

Imperturbable (?), a. [L. imperturbabilis; pref. im- not + perturbare to disturb: cf. F. imperturbable. See .] Incapable of being disturbed or disconcerted; as, imperturbable gravity.
[ Webster]

Imperturbably, adv. In an imperturbable manner; calmly. C. Bronté.
[ Webster]

Imperturbation (?), n. [L. imperturbatio.] Freedom from agitation of mind; calmness; quietude. W. Montagu.
[ Webster]

Imperturbed (?), a. Not perturbed.
[ Webster]

Imperviability (?), n. The quality of being imperviable.
[ Webster]

Imperviable (?), a. Not pervious; impervious. [R.] -- Imperviableness, n. [R.]
[ Webster]

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

This gulf impassable, impervious. Milton.
[ Webster]

The minds of these zealots were absolutely impervious. Macaulay.

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

-- Imperviously, adv. -- Imperviousness, n.
[ Webster]

Impery (?), n. Empery. [Archaic] Joye.
[ Webster]

Impest (?), v. t. To affict with pestilence; to infect, as with plague. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Impester (?), v. t. See . [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Impetiginous (?), a. [L. impetiginous: cf. F. impétigineux.] Of the nature of, or pertaining to, impetigo.
[ Webster]

Impetigo (?), n. [L., fr. impetere to attack.] (Med.) A cutaneous, pustular eruption, not attended with fever; usually, a kind of eczema with pustulation.
[ Webster]

Impetrable (?) a. [L. impetrabilis: cf. F. impétrable. See .] Capable of being obtained or moved by petition. [Obs.] Bailey.
[ Webster]

Impetrate (?), a. [L. impetratus, p. p. of impetrare to obtain; pref. im- in + patrare to bring to pass.] Obtained by entreaty. [Obs.] Ld. Herbert.
[ Webster]

Impetrate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impetrated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impetrating (?).] To obtain by request or entreaty. Usher.
[ Webster]

Impetration (?), n. [L. impetratio: cf. F. impétration.] 1. The act of impetrating, or obtaining by petition or entreaty. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

In way of impertation procuring the removal or allevation of our crosses. Barrow.
[ Webster]

2. (Old Eng. Law) The obtaining of benefice from Rome by solicitation, which benefice belonged to the disposal of the king or other lay patron of the realm.
[ Webster]

Impetrative (?), a. [L. impetrativus obtained by entreaty.] Of the nature of impetration; getting, or tending to get, by entreaty. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Impetratory (?), a. Containing or expressing entreaty. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
[ Webster]

Impetuosity (?), n. [Cf. F. impétuosité.] 1. The condition or quality of being impetuous; fury; violence.
[ Webster]

2. Vehemence, or furiousnes of temper. Shak.
[ Webster]

Impetuous (?), a. [F. impetueux, L. impetuosus. See .] 1. Rushing with force and violence; moving with impetus; furious; forcible; violent; as, an impetuous wind; an impetuous torrent.
[ Webster]

Went pouring forward with impetuous speed. Byron.
[ Webster]

2. Vehement in feeling; hasty; passionate; violent; as, a man of impetuous temper.
[ Webster]

The people, on their holidays,
Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable. Milton.

Syn. -- Forcible; rapid; hasty; precipitate; furious; boisterous; violent; raging; fierce; passionate.

-- Impetuously, adv. -- Impetuousness, n.
[ Webster]

Impetus (ĭmp�tŭs), n. [L., fr. impetere to rush upon, attack; pref. im- in + petere to fall upon, seek. See .] 1. A property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its weight and its motion; the force with which any body is driven or impelled; momentum.
[ Webster]

☞ Momentum is the technical term, impetus its popular equivalent, yet differing from it as applied commonly to bodies moving or moved suddenly or violently, and indicating the origin and intensity of the motion, rather than its quantity or effectiveness.
[ Webster]

2. Fig.: Impulse; incentive; stimulus; vigor; force; as, the President's strong recommendation provided the impetus needed to pass the campaign reform bill. Buckle.
[ Webster +PJC]

3. (Gun.) The altitude through which a heavy body must fall to acquire a velocity equal to that with which a ball is discharged from a piece.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z