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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
IMPE'ACH, v.t. [L. pango, pactus.]
IMPE'ACH, n. Hinderance.
To hinder; to impede; to
prevent.
[Obs.]
These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach his journey to the Holy Land. Sir J. Davies. A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance. Howell. To charge with a crime or misdemeanor; to
accuse; especially to charge (a public officer), before a competent
tribunal, with misbehavior in office; to cite before a tribunal for
judgment of official misconduct; to arraign; as, to impeach a
judge. See Impeachment.
Hence, to charge with impropriety; to
dishonor; to bring discredit on; to call in question; as, to
impeach one's motives or conduct.
And doth impeach the freedom of the state. Shak. To challenge or discredit the
credibility of, as of a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial
paper.
* When used in law with reference to a witness, the term signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a witness may be impeached by showing that he has made statements out of court contradictory to what he swears at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for veracity is bad, etc. Syn. -- To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair; disparage; discredit. See Accuse. Hindrance;
impeachment.
[Obs.] | ||||||||