impeach
verb/ɪmˈpiːt͡ʃ/
Etymology From Middle English empechen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman empecher, from Old French empeechier (“to hinder”), from Latin impedicāre (“to fetter”). Cognate with French empêcher (“to prevent”).
1
To hinder, impede, or prevent.
- These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach his journey to the Holy Land.1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued:
- I was afraid the same defluxion of Salt Rheum which fell from my Temples into my Throat in Oxford, and distilling upon the Uvula, impeached my Utterance a little to this Day1655, James Howell, “To my Father”, in Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters Domestic and Forren. […], 3rd edition, volume (please specify the page), London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], →OCLC:
2
To bring a legal proceeding against a public official.
- President Clinton was impeached by the House in November 1998, but since the Senate acquitted him, he was not removed from office.
3
To charge with impropriety; to discredit; to call into question.
4
Law To demonstrate in court that a testimony under oath contradicts another testimony from the same person, usually one taken during deposition.
- Derived terms
- disimpeach, impeachable, impeacher, impeachment, impeachy, unimpeached