Chapter 782

The scorching ray Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease. Byron.

Impregnation <Xpage=738>

Im`preg*na"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. impr\'82gnation , 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 spermatozo\'94n) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation.

&hand; 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; influsion; saturation.

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

Raymond.

Imprejudicate <Xpage=738>

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

Sir T. Browne.

Imprenable <Xpage=738>

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

Impreparation <Xpage=738>

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

Hooker.

Impresa <Xpage=738>

Im*pre"sa (?) , 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.

Impresario <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*sa"ri*o (?) , n. ; pl. Impresarios (#) . [It., from impresa enterprise.] The projector, manager, or conductor, of an opera or concert company.

Imprescriptibility <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*scrip`ti*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. imprescriptibilit\'82 .] The quality of being imprescriptible.

Imprescriptible <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*scrip"ti*ble (?) , a. [Pref. im- not + prescriptible : cf. F. imprescriptible .] 1. Not capable of being lost or impaired by neglect, by disuse, or by the claims of another founded on prescription.

The right of navigation, fishing, and others that may be exercised on the sea, belonging to the right of mere ability, are imprescriptible . Vattel (Trans. )

2. Not derived from, or dependent on, external authority; self-evidencing; obvious.

The imprescriptible laws of the pure reason. Colerridge.

Imprescriptibly <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*scrip"ti*bly , adv. In an imprescriptible manner; obviously.

Imprese <Xpage=738>

Im*prese" (?) , n. A device. See Impresa .

An imprese , as the Italians call it, is a device in picture with his motto or word, borne by noble or learned personages. Camden.

Impress <Xpage=738>

Im*press" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Impressed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Impressing .] [L. impressus , p. p. of imprimere to impress; pref. im- in, on + premere to press. See Press to squeeze, and cf. Imprint .] 1. To press, stamp, or print something in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as by pressure; to imprint (that which bears the impression).

His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed . Shak.

2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to imprint (a mark or figure upon something).

3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate.

Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them. I. Watts.

4. [See Imprest , Impress , n. , 5.] To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors or money .

The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sick and wounded prisoners. Evelyn.

Impress <Xpage=738>

Im*press" , v. i. To be impressed; to rest. [Obs.]

Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress . Chaucer.

Impress <Xpage=738>

Im"press (?) , n. ; pl. Impresses (<?/) . 1. The act of impressing or making.

2. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of anything, formed by pressure or as if by pressure; result produced by pressure or influence.

The impresses of the insides of these shells. Woodward.

This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice. Shak.

3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp.

South.

4. A device. See Impresa .

Cussans.

To describe . . . emblazoned shields, Impresses quaint. Milton.

5. [See Imprest , Press to force into service.] The act of impressing, or taking by force for the public service; compulsion to serve; also, that which is impressed.

Why such impress of shipwrights? Shak.

Impress gang , a party of men, with an officer, employed to impress seamen for ships of war; a press gang. -- Impress money , a sum of money paid, immediately upon their entering service, to men who have been impressed.

Impressibility <Xpage=738>

Im*press`i*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality of being impressible; susceptibility.

Impressible <Xpage=738>

Im*press"i*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. impressible .] Capable of being impressed; susceptible; sensitive. -- Im*press"i*ble*ness , n. -- Im*press"i*bly , adv.

Impression <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sion (?) , n. [F. impression , L. impressio .] 1. The act of impressing, or the state of being impressed; the communication of a stamp, mold, style, or character, by external force or by influence.

2. That which is impressed; stamp; mark; indentation; sensible result of an influence exerted from without.

The stamp and clear impression of good sense. Cowper.

To shelter us from impressions of weather, we must spin, we must weave, we must build. Barrow.

3. That which impresses, or exercises an effect, action, or agency; appearance; phenomenon. [Obs.]

Portentous blaze of comets and impressions in the air. Milton.

A fiery impression falling from out of Heaven. Holland.

4. Influence or effect on the senses or the intellect hence, interest, concern.

Reid.

His words impression left. Milton.

Such terrible impression made the dream. Shak.

I have a father's dear impression , And wish, before I fall into my grave, That I might see her married. Ford.

5. An indistinct notion, remembrance, or belief.

6. Impressiveness; emphasis of delivery.

Which must be read with an impression . Milton.

7. (Print.) The pressure of the type on the paper, or the result of such pressure, as regards its appearance; as, a heavy impression ; a clear, or a poor, impression ; also, a single copy as the result of printing, or the whole edition printed at a given time.

Ten impressions which his books have had. Dryden.

8. In painting, the first coat of color, as the priming in house painting and the like. [R.]

9. (Engraving) A print on paper from a wood block, metal plate, or the like.

Proof impression , one of the early impressions taken from an engraving, before the plate or block is worn.

Impressionability <Xpage=738>

Im*pres`sion*a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality of being impressionable.

Impresionable <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"ion*a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. impressionnable .] Liable or subject to impression; capable of being molded; susceptible; impressible.

He was too impressionable ; he had too much of the temperament of genius. Motley.

A pretty face and an impressionable disposition. T. Hook.

Impressionableness <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sion*a*ble*ness , n. The quality of being impressionable.

Impressionism <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sion*ism (?) , n. [F. impressionnisme .] (Fine Arts) The theory or method of suggesting an effect or impression without elaboration of the details; -- a disignation of a recent fashion in painting and etching.

Impressionist <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sion*ist , n. [F. impressionniste .] (Fine Arts) One who adheres to the theory or method of impressionism, so called.

Impressionistic <Xpage=738>

Im*pres`sion*is"tic (?) , a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, impressionism.

Impressionless <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sion*less , a. Having the quality of not being impressed or affected; not susceptible.

Impressive <Xpage=738>

Im*press"ive (?) , a. [Cf. F. impressif.] 1. Making, or tending to make, an impression; having power to impress; adapted to excite attention and feeling, to touch the sensibilities, or affect the conscience; as, an impressive discourse; an impressive scene.

2. Capable of being impressed. [Obs.]

Drayton.

- Im*press"ive*ly , adv. -- Im*press"ive*ness , n.

Impressment <Xpage=738>

Im*press"ment (?) , n. The act of seizing for public use, or of impressing into public service; compulsion to serve; as, the impressment of provisions or of sailors .

The great scandal of our naval service -- impressment -- died a protracted death. J. H. Burton.

Impressor <Xpage=738>

Im*press"or (?) , n. [LL., a printer.] One who, or that which, impresses.

Boyle.

Impressure <Xpage=738>

Im*pres"sure (?) , n. [Cf. OF. impressure , LL. impressura .] Dent; impression. [Obs.]

Shak.

Imprest <Xpage=738>

Im*prest" (<?/) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imprested ; p. pr. & vb. n. Impresting .] [Pref. im- + prest : cf. It. imprestare . See Prest , n. ] To advance on loan.

Burke.

Imprest <Xpage=738>

Im"prest (?) , n. [Cf. It. impresto , imprestito , LL. impraestitum . See Imprest , v. t. , and Impress compulsion to serve.] A kind of earnest money; loan; -- specifically, money advanced for some public service, as in enlistment.

Burke.

The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. Pepys.

Imprevalence, Imprevalency <Xpage=738>

Im*prev"a*lence (?) , Im*prev"a*len*cy (?) , n. Want of prevalence. [Obs.]

Impreventability <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*vent`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The state or quality of being impreventable. [R.]

Impreventable <Xpage=738>

Im`pre*vent"a*ble (?) , a. Not preventable; invitable.

Imprimatur <Xpage=738>

Im`pri*ma"tur (?) , n. [L., let it be printed.] (Law) A license to print or publish a book, paper, etc.; also, in countries subjected to the censorship of the press, approval of that which is published.

Imprimery <Xpage=738>

Im*prim"er*y (?) , n. [F. imprimerie , fr. imprimer to imprint.] [Obs.] (a) A print; impression. (b) A printing establishment . (c) The art of printing.

Impriming <Xpage=738>

Im*prim"ing (?) , n. A begining. [Obs.] "Their springings and imprimings ."

Sir H. Wotton.

Imprimis <Xpage=738>

Im*pri"mis (?) , adv. [L., for in primis among the first, chiefly; in in + primus first.] In the first place; first in order.

Imprint <Xpage=738>

Im*print" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imptrinted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Imprinting .] [OE. emprenten , F. empreint , p. p. of empreindre to imprint, fr. L. imprimere to impres, imprint. See 1st In- , Print , and cf. Impress .] 1. To impress; to mark by pressure; to indent; to stamp.

And sees his num'rous herds imprint her sands. Prior.

2. To stamp or mark, as letters on paper, by means of type, plates, stamps, or the like; to print the mark (figures, letters, etc., upon something).

Nature imprints upon whate'er we see, That has a heart and life in it, "Be free." Cowper.

3. To fix indelibly or permanently, as in the mind or memory; to impress.

Ideas of those two different things distinctly imprinted on his mind. Locke.

<page="739"> Page 739

Imprint <Xpage=739>

Im"print (?) , n. [Cf. F. empreinte impress, stamp. See Imprint , v. t. ] Whatever is impressed or imprinted; the impress or mark left by something; specifically, the name of the printer or publisher (usually) with the time and place of issue, in the title-page of a book, or on any printed sheet. "That imprint of their hands."

Buckle.

Imprison <Xpage=739>

Im*pris"on (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imprisoned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Imprisoning .] [OE. enprisonen , OF. enprisoner , F. emprisonner ; pref. en- (L. in ) + F. & OF. prison . See Prison .] 1. To put in prison or jail; To arrest and detain in custody; to confine.

He imprisoned was in chains remediles. Spenser.

2. To limit, restrain, or confine in any way.

Try to imprison the resistless wind. Dryden.

Syn. -- To incarcerate; confine; immure.

Imprisoner <Xpage=739>

Im*pris"on*er (?) , n. One who imprisons.

Imprison ment <Xpage=739>

Im*pris"on ment (?) , n. [OE. enprisonment ; F. emprisonnement .] The act of imprisoning, or the state of being imprisoned; confinement; restraint.

His sinews waxen weak and raw Through long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser.

Every confinement of the person is an imprisonment , whether it be in a common prison, or in a private house, or even by foreibly detaining one in the public streets. Blackstone.

False imprisonment . (Law) See under False .

Syn. -- Incarceration; custody; confinement; durance; restraint.

Improbability <Xpage=739>

Im*prob`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Improbabilities (#) . [Cf. F. improbabilit\'82 .] The quality or state of being improbable; unlikelihood; also, that which is improbable; an improbable event or result.

Improbable <Xpage=739>

Im*prob"a*ble (?) , a. [L. improbabilis ; pref. im- not + probabilis probable: cf. F. improbable . See Probable .] Not probable; unlikely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances or in the usual course of events; as, an improbable story or event .

He . . . sent to Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover. Milton.

-- Im*prob"a*ble*ness , n. -- Im*prob"a*bly , adv.

Improbate <Xpage=739>

Im"pro*bate (?) , v. t. [L. improbatus , p. p. of improbare to disapprove; pref. im- not + probare to approve.] To disapprove of; to disallow. [Obs.]

Improbation <Xpage=739>

Im`pro*ba"tion (?) , n. [L. improbatio .] 1. The act of disapproving; disapprobation.

2. (Scots Law) The act by which falsehood and forgery are proved; an action brought for the purpose of having some instrument declared false or forged.

Bell.

Improbative, Improbatory <Xpage=739>

Im"pro*ba*tive (?) , Im"pro*ba`to*ry (?) , a. Implying, or tending to, improbation.

Improbity <Xpage=739>

Im*prob"i*ty (?) , n. [L. improbitas ; pref. im- not + probitas probity: cf. F. improbit\'82 .] Lack of probity; want of integrity or rectitude; dishonesty.

Persons . . . cast out for notorious improbity . Hooker.

Improficience, Improficiency <Xpage=739>

Im`pro*fi"cience (?) , Im`pro*fi"cien*cy , n. Want of proficiency. [R.]

Bacon.

Improfitable <Xpage=739>

Im*prof"it*a*ble (?) , a. [Pref. im- not + profitable : cf. F. improfitable .] Unprofitable. [Obs.]

Improgressive <Xpage=739>

Im`pro*gress"ive (?) , a. Not progressive. De Quincey . -- Im"pro*gress"ive*ly , adv.

Improlific <Xpage=739>

Im`pro*lif"ic (?) , a. [Pref. im- not + prolific : cf. F. improlifique .] Not prolific. [Obs.]

E. Waterhouse.

Improlificate <Xpage=739>

Im`pro*lif"ic*ate (?) , v. t. [Pref. im- in + prolificate .] To impregnate. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Imprompt <Xpage=739>

Im*prompt" (?) , a. Not ready. [R.]

Sterne.

Impromptu <Xpage=739>

Im*promp"tu (?) , adv. &or; a. [F. impromptu , fr. L. in promptu in readiness, at hand; in in + promptus visibility, readiness, from promptus visible, ready. See Prompt .] Offhand; without previous study; extemporaneous; extempore; as, an impromptu verse .

Impromptu <Xpage=739>

Im*promp"tu , n. 1. Something made or done offhand, at the moment, or without previous study; an extemporaneous composition, address, or remark.

2. (Mus.) A piece composed or played at first thought; a composition in the style of an extempore piece.

Improper <Xpage=739>

Im*prop"er (?) , a. [F. impropre , L. improprius ; pref. im- not + proprius proper. See Proper .] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper medicine; improper thought, behavior, language, dress.

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service, Improper for a slave. Shak.

And to their proper operation still, Ascribe all Good; to their improper , Ill. Pope.

2. Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general; common. [Obs.]

Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry. J. Fletcher.

3. Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous.

Improper diphthong . See under Diphthong . -- Improper feud , an originalfeud, not earned by military service. Mozley & W . -- Improper fraction . See under Fraction .

Improper <Xpage=739>