verb (used with object)
1.
to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.
2.
Chiefly Law. to challenge the credibility of: to impeach a witness.
3.
to bring an accusation against.
4.
to call in question; cast an imputation upon: to impeach a person's motives.
5.
to call to account.
noun
6.
Obsolete, impeachment.
00:10
Impeach
is always a great word to know.
So is punitive. Does it mean:
| The wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods of another from his or her possession with intent to convert them to the taker039;s own use. |
| serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English empechen, enpeshen < Anglo-French empecher < Late Latin impedicāre to fetter, trap, equivalent to Latin im- im-1 + pedic(a) a fetter (derivative of pēs foot) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix
1350–1400; Middle English empechen, enpeshen < Anglo-French empecher < Late Latin impedicāre to fetter, trap, equivalent to Latin im- im-1 + pedic(a) a fetter (derivative of pēs foot) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix
Related forms
im·peach·er, noun
un·im·peached, adjective
Synonyms
4. question, challenge, impugn.
4. question, challenge, impugn.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To impeach
Collins
World English Dictionary
impeach (ɪmˈpiːtʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | criminal law to bring a charge or accusation against |
| 2. | (Brit) criminal law to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state |
| 3. | chiefly (US) to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office |
| 4. | to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc) |
| [C14: from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin | |
| im'peacher | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
impeach
c.1380, "to impede, hinder, prevent," from Anglo-Fr. empecher, from O.Fr. empeechier "hinder" (12c.), from L.L. impedicare "to fetter, catch, entangle," from L. in- "in" + pedica "shackle," from pes (gen. pedis) "foot." Sense of "accuse a public officer of misconduct" first recorded 1568, via confusion
with L. impetere "attack, accuse."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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