Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PER-CEIV'A-BLE-NESS, n.

Imperceptibleness.

IM-PER-CEP'TI-BLE, a. [Fr.; in and perceptible.]

1. Not to be perceived; not to be known or discovered by the senses. We say a thing is imperceptible to the touch, to the eye or sight, to the ear, to the taste or smell. Hence,
2. Very small; fine; minute in dimensions; or very slow in motion or progress; as, the growth of a plant or animal is imperceptible; it is too slow to be perceived by the eye.

IM-PER-CEP'TI-BLE, n.

That which can not be perceived by the senses on account of its smallness. [Little used.] Tatler.

IM-PER-CEP'TI-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality of being imperceptible. Hale.

IM-PER-CEP'TI-BLY, adv.

In a manner not to be perceived. Addison.

IM-PER-CIP'I-ENT, a.

Not perceiving or having power to perceive. Baxter.

IM-PER'DI-BLE, a.

Not destructible. [Not a legitimate word.]

IM-PER'FECT, a. [L. imperfectus; in and perfectus, finished, perfect; perficio, to perfect; per and facio, to make.]

1. Not finished; not complete. The work or design is imperfect.
2. Defective; not entire, sound or whole; wanting a part; impaired. The writings of Livy are imperfect.
3. Not perfect in intellect; liable to err; as, men are imperfect; our minds and understandings are imperfect.
4. Not perfect in a moral view; not according to the laws of God, or the rules of right. Our services and obedience are imperfect.
5. In grammar, the imperfect tense denotes an action in time past, then present, but not finished.
6. In music, incomplete; not having all the accessary sounds; as, an imperfect chord. An imperfect interval is one which does not contain its complement of simple sounds. Busby.

IM-PER'FECT, a.

In botany, wanting either stamens or pistils; as a flower.

IM-PER-FEC'TION, n. [Fr. from L. imperfectio, supra.]

1. Defect; fault; the want of a part or of something necessary to complete a thing; equally applicable to physical or moral subjects. When fruit fails to come to maturity, and after it begins to decay, we denominate the defect, an imperfection. Laws sometimes fail of the intended effect, either from their imperfection, or from the imperfection of the administration. Men are all chargeable with imperfections, both in character and in conduct.
2. In book-binding, a sheet or signature wanting to complete a book.

IM-PER'FECT-LY, adv.

In an imperfect manner or degree; not fully; not entirely; not completely; not in the best manner; not without fault or failure.

IM-PER'FECT-NESS, n.

The state of being imperfect.

IM-PER'FO-RA-BLE, a. [infra.]

That can not be perfected or bored through.

IM-PER'FO-RATE, a. [L. in and perforatus, perforo.]

Not perforated or pierced; having no opening. Sharpe.

IM-PER'FO-RA-TED, a.

1. Not perforated. Brown.
2. Having no pores. Sir J. Banks.

IM-PER-FO-RA'TION, n.

The state of being not perforated, or without any aperture.

IM-PE'RI-AL, a. [Fr. from L. imperialis, from impero, to command. See Emperor.]

1. Pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; an imperial diadem; imperial authority or edict; imperial power or sway.
2. Royal; belonging to a monarch; as, an imperial palace; imperial arts. Dryden.
3. Pertaining to royalty; denoting sovereignty.
4. Commanding; maintaining supremacy; as, the imperial democracy of Athens. Mitford. Imperial chamber, the sovereign court of the German empire. Encyc. Imperial city, a city in Germany which has no head but the emperor. Imperial diet, an assembly of all the states of the German empire. Encyc.

IM-PE'RI-AL, n.

In architecture, a kind of roof or dome, which, viewed in profile, is pointed toward the top, and widens as it descends. Elmes.

IM-PE'RI-AL'IST, n.

One who belongs to an emperor; a subject or soldier of an emperor. The denomination, imperialists, is often give to the troops or armies of the emperor of Austria.

IM-PE-RI-AL'I-TY, n.

1. Imperial power.
2. The right of an emperor to a share of the produce of mines, &c. 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. Tooke.

IM-PE'RI-AL-IZ-ED, a.

Made imperial or belonging to an emperor. Fuller.

IM-PE'RI-AL-LY, adv.

In a royal manner.

IM-PER'IL, v.t. [in and peril.]

To bring into danger. Spenser.

IM-PER'IL-ED, pp.

Brought into danger.

IM-PER'I-LING, ppr.

Bringing into danger.