Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PE-DITION, a.

A hindering. Baxler.

IM-PED'I-TIVE, a.

Cattsan, hinderance. Sanderson.

IM-PEL', v.t. [Sp. impeder impellere; L. impello; in and pello, to drive.]

To drive or urge forward; to press on; to excite to action or to move forward, by the application of physical force, or moral suasion or necessity. A ball is impelled by the force of powder; a ship is impelled by wind; a man may be impell'd by hunger or a regard to his safety; motives of policy or of safety impel nations to confederate. The surge impelled me on a craggy coast. Pope. And several men impel to several ends. Pope.

IM-PELLED, pp.

Driven forward; urged on; moved by any force or power, physical or moral.

IM-PEL'LEN, a.

Having the quality of impelling.

IM-PEL'LENT, n.

A power or force that drives forward; motive or impulsive power.

IM-PEL'LER, n.

He or that which impels.

IM-PEL'LING, ppr.

Driving forward; urging; pressing.

IM-PEN', v.t. [in and pen.]

To pen; to shut or inclose in a narrow place. Feltham.

IM-PEND', v.i. [L. impendeo; in and pendeo, to hang.]

1. To hang over; to be suspended above; to threaten. A dark cloud impends over the land. Destruction sure o'er all yoor heads impends. Pope.
2. To be near; to be approaching and ready to fall on. It expresses our deep sense of God's impending wrath. Smalridge. Nor bear advices of impending foes. Pope.

IM-PEND'ENCE, or IM-PEND'EN-CY, n.

The state of hanging over; near approach; a menacing attitude. Hammond.

IM-PEND'ENT, a.

Hanging over; imminent; threatening; pressing closely; as, an impendent evil. Hale.

IM-PEND'ING, ppr.

Hanging over; approaching near; threatening.

IM-PEND-ING, ppr.

Hindering; stopping; obstructing.

IM-PEN'E-RA-BLE, a. [L. impenetrabilis; in and penetrabilis, from penetro, to penetrate.]

1. That can not be penetrated or pierced; not admitting the passage of other bodies; as, an impenetrable shield.
2. Not to be affected or moved; not admitting impressions on the mind. The hardened sinner remains impenetrable to the admonitions of the Gospel.
3. Not to be entered by the sight; as, impenetrable darkness. Hence,
4. Not to be entered and viewed by the eye of the intellect; as, impenetrable obscurity or abstruseness.

IM-PEN-E-TRA-BIL'I-TY, n. [from impenetrable.]

1. The quality of being impenetrable.
2. In philosophy, that quality of matter which prevents two bodies from occupying the same space at the same time. Good.
3. Insusceptibility of intellectual impression. Johnson.

IM-PEN'E-TRA-BLE-NESS, n.

Impenetrability,—which see.

IM-PEN'ETRA-BLY, adv.

1. With solidity that admits not of being penetrated.
2. With hardness that admits not of impression; as, impenetrably dull. Pope.

IM-PENI-TENCE, or IM-PENTITEN-CY, n. [Fr. impenitence; Sp. impenitenna; It. unpenitenza; L. in and penitens, from partite, to repent, parym, pain.]

Want of penitence or repentance; absence of contrition or sorrow for sin; obduracy; hardness of heart. Final impenitence dooms the sinner to inevitable punishment. lie will advance from one degree of impenitence to another. Ragers.

IM-PENI-TENT, a. [Fr.; in and penitent, Mira.]

Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; obdurate; of a hard heart. They died Impenitent. Milton.

IM-PEN'I-TENT, n.

One who does not repent; a hardened sinner.

IM-PENITENT-LY, adv.

Without repentance or contrition for sin; obdurately.

IM-PEN'NED, pp.

Inclosed in a narrow place.

IM-PEN'NING, ppr.

Inclosing in a narrow place.

IM-PEN'NOUS, a. [in and pennous.]

Wanting wings.