Origin: 1595–1605; < L
impedīre to entangle, lit., to snare the feet.
See im- 1 , pedi-1 
Related forms: im⋅ped⋅er, noun
im⋅ped⋅i⋅ble, adjective
im⋅ped⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Synonyms:slow, delay, check, stop, block, thwart.
See prevent. Antonyms:
advance, encourage.