Impost, im′pōst, n. a tax, esp. on imports: (archit.) that part of a pillar in vaults and arches on which the weight of the building is laid. [O. Fr. impost (Fr. impôt)—L. imponĕre, to lay on.]
Imposthume, impos′tūm, n. an abscess.—v.i. Impos′thumāte, to form an imposthume or abscess.—v.t. to affect with an imposthume.—adj. affected with such.—n. one swelled or bloated.—n. Imposthumā′tion, the act of forming an abscess: an abscess. [A corr. of apostume, itself a corr. of aposteme—Gr. apostēma, a separation of corrupt matter—apo, away, and the root of histēmi, I set up.]
Impostor, im-pos′tur, n. one who practises imposition or fraud.—n. Impos′tūre.—adj. Impos′tūrous.
Impotent, im′po-tent, adj. powerless: without sexual power: wanting the power of self-restraint.—ns. Im′potence, Im′potency.—adv. Im′potently.
Impound, im-pownd′, v.t. to confine, as in a pound: to restrain within limits: to take possession of.—n. Impound′age, the act of impounding cattle.
Impoverish, im-pov′ėr-ish, v.t. to make poor: to exhaust the resources (as of a nation), or fertility (as of the soil).—n. Impov′erishment. [From O. Fr. empovrir (Fr. appauvrir)—L. in, in, pauper, poor.]
Impracticable, im-prak′tik-a-bl, adj. not able to be done: unmanageable: stubborn.—ns. Imprac′ticability, Imprac′ticableness.—adv. Imprac′ticably.
Imprecate, im′pre-kāt, v.t. to pray for good or evil upon: to curse.—n. Imprecā′tion, the act of imprecating: a curse.—adj. Im′precatory. [L. imprecāri—in, upon, precāri, -ātus, to pray.]
Impregn, im-prēn′, v.t. (Milt.) to impregnate.
Impregnable, im-preg′na-bl, adj. that cannot be seized: that cannot be moved.—n. Impregnabil′ity.—adv. Impreg′nably. [Fr. imprenable—L. in, not, prendĕre, prehendĕre, to take.]