Impoverish
(Im*pov"er*ish) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impoverished ; p. pr. & vb. n. Impoverishing.] [OF.
empovrir; pref. em- (L. in) + povre poor, F. pauvre; cf. OF. apovrir, F. appauvrir, where the prefix is
a- , L. ad. Cf. Empoverish, and see Poor, and -ish.]
1. To make poor; to reduce to poverty or indigence; as, misfortune and disease impoverish families.
2. To exhaust the strength, richness, or fertility of; to make sterile; as, to impoverish land.
Impoverisher
(Im*pov"er*ish*er) n. One who, or that which, impoverishes.
Impoverishment
(Im*pov"er*ish*ment) n. [Cf. OF. empoverissement, and F. appauvrissement.] The
act of impoverishing, or the state of being impoverished; reduction to poverty. Sir W. Scott.
Impower
(Im*pow"er) v. t. See Empower.
Imp-pole
(Imp"-pole`) n. (Building) A pole for supporting a scaffold.
Impracticability
(Im*prac`ti*ca*bil"i*ty) n.; pl. Impracticabilities
1. The state or quality of being impracticable; infeasibility. Goldsmith.
2. An impracticable thing.
3. Intractableness; stubbornness.
Impracticable
(Im*prac"ti*ca*ble) a.
1. Not practicable; incapable of being performed, or accomplished by the means employed, or at command; impossible; as,
an impracticable undertaking.
2. Not to be overcome, persuaded, or controlled by any reasonable method; unmanageable; intractable; not
capable of being easily dealt with; — used in a general sense, as applied to a person or thing that is
difficult to control or get along with.
This though, impracticable heart
Is governed by a dainty-fingered girl.
Rowe.
Patriotic but loyal men went away disgusted afresh with the impracticable arrogance of a sovereign.
Palfrey. 3. Incapable of being used or availed of; as, an impracticable road; an impracticable method.
Syn. — Impossible; infeasible. — Impracticable, Impossible. A thing is impracticable when it can not
be accomplished by any human means at present possessed; a thing is impossible when the laws of
nature forbid it. The navigation of a river may now be impracticable, but not impossible, because the
existing obstructions may yet be removed. "The barons exercised the most despotic authority over their
vassals, and every scheme of public utility was rendered impracticable by their continued petty wars
with each other." Mickle. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt. xix.
26.
Impracticableness
(Im*prac"ti*ca*ble*ness), n. The state or quality of being impracticable; impracticability.
Impracticably
(Im*prac"ti*ca*bly), adv. In an impracticable manner.
Morality not impracticably rigid.
Johnson. Impractical
(Im*prac"ti*cal) a. Not practical.
