Defn: The driving of one fragment of bone into another so that the fragments are not movable upon each other; as, impaction of the skull or of the hip.
2. An immovable packing; (Med.), a lodgment of something in a strait or passage of the body; as, impaction of the fetal head in the strait of the pelvis; impaction of food or feces in the intestines of man or beast.
IMPAINT
Im*paint", v. t.
Defn: To paint; to adorn with colors. [R.] "To impaint his cause."
Shak.
IMPAIR Im*pair", v. t. [imp & p. p. Impaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Impairing.] [Written also empair.] Etym: [OE. empeiren, enpeiren, OF. empeirier, empirier, F. empirer, LL. impejorare; L. pref. im- in + pejorare to make worse, fr. pejor worse. Cf. Appair.]
Defn: To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or
strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind,
value.
Time sensibly all things impairs. Roscommon.
In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. Pope.
Syn. — To diminish; decrease; injure; weaken; enfeeble; debilitate; reduce; debase; deteriorate.
IMPAIR
Im*pair", v. t.
Defn: To grow worse; to deteriorate. Milton.
IMPAIR
Im"pair, a. Etym: [F. impair uneven, L. impar; im- not + par equal.]