3. Hence, to charge with impropriety; to dishonor; to bring discredit on; to call in question; as, to impeach one's motives or conduct. And doth impeach the freedom of the state. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper.
Note: When used in law with reference to a witness, the term signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a witness may be impeached by showing that he has made statements out of court contradictory to what he swears at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for veracity is bad, etc.
Syn. — To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair; disparage; discredit. See Accuse.
IMPEACH
Im*peach", n.
Defn: Hindrance; impeachment. [Obs.]
IMPEACHABLE
Im*peach"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be impeached; liable to impeachment; chargeable with a
crime.
Owners of lands in fee simple are not impeachable for waste. Z.
Swift.
IMPEACHER
Im*peach"er, n.