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impend

 - 3 dictionary results

im⋅pend

  [im-pend]
Use impend in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to be imminent; be about to happen.
2. to threaten or menace: He felt that danger impended.
3. Archaic. to hang or be suspended; overhang (usually fol. by over).
Origin:
1580–90; < L impendēre to hang over, threaten. See im- 1 , pend
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To impend
im·pend   (ĭm-pěnd')   
intr.v.   im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends

  1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending.

  2. To threaten to happen; menace: discouraged by the trouble that impended.

  3. Archaic To jut out; hang suspended.


[Latin impendēre : in-, over; see in-2 + pendēre, to hang; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

impend 
1599, from fig. use of L. impendere "to hang over, to be imminent," from in- "in" + pendere "hang" (see pendant).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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