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imperviousness

 - 4 dictionary results

im⋅per⋅vi⋅ous

[im-pur-vee-uhs]
–adjective
1. not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable: The coat is impervious to rain.
2. incapable of being injured or impaired: impervious to wear and tear.
3. incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected: impervious to reason; impervious to another's suffering.
Also, im⋅per⋅vi⋅a⋅ble [im-pur-vee-uh-buhl] .


Origin:
1640–50; < L impervius. See im- 2 , pervious


im⋅per⋅vi⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
im⋅per⋅vi⋅ous⋅ness, noun


3. invulnerable, closed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To imperviousness
im·per·vi·ous   (ĭm-pûr'vē-əs)   
adj.  
  1. Incapable of being penetrated: a material impervious to water.

  2. Incapable of being affected: impervious to fear.


[From Latin impervius : in-, not; see in-1 + pervius, pervious; see pervious.]
im·per'vi·ous·ly adv., im·per'vi·ous·ness n.
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

impervious 
1650, from L. impervius "that cannot be passed through," from in- "not" + pervius "letting things through," from per "through" + via "road."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: im·per·vi·ous
Pronunciation: (')im-'p&r-vE-&s
Function: adjective
: not allowing entrance or passage impervious to air and light> —im·per·vi·ous·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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