Impeaching

Impeaching
Impeach Im*peach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Impeached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Impeaching}.] [OE. empeechier to prevent, hinder, bar, F. emp[^e]cher, L. impedicare to entangle; pref. im- in + pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and {Appeach}, {Dispatch}, {Impede}.] 1. To hinder; to impede; to prevent. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach his journey to the Holy Land. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]

A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance. --Howell. [1913 Webster]

2. 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}. [1913 Webster]

3. Hence, to charge with impropriety; to dishonor; to bring discredit on; to call in question; as, to impeach one's motives or conduct. [1913 Webster]

And doth impeach the freedom of the state. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • impeaching — im·peach || ɪm pɪːtʃ v. accuse; formally charge with misconduct; cast doubt upon; remove from office …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Movement to impeach George W. Bush — The movement to impeach George W. Bush is a series of actions and commentary within the public and private spheres voicing support for the impeachment of United States President George W. Bush. The phrase is also used in a broader sense to refer… …   Wikipedia

  • Impeachment in the United States — is an expressed power of the legislature which allows for formal charges to be brought against a civil officer of government for conduct committed in office. The actual trial on those charges, and subsequent removal of an official on conviction… …   Wikipedia

  • Efforts to impeach George W. Bush — During the presidency of George W. Bush, several American politicians sought to either investigate Bush for allegedly impeachable offenses, or to bring actual impeachment charges on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Tom DeLay — House Majority Leader In office January 3, 2003 – September 28, 2005 Speaker Dennis Hastert Whip …   Wikipedia

  • John Bonifaz — John C. Bonifaz (born 22, June 1966) is a Boston based attorney specializing in constitutional law and voting rights, and founder of the National Voting Rights Institute. He received a MacArthur Fellowship, popularly known as the genius award ,… …   Wikipedia

  • Impeachment of Dick Cheney — House Resolution 333 (USBill|110|H.Res.|333) is a resolution proposed in the House of Representatives on April 24, 2007 by Representative Dennis Kucinich (D Ohio) during the 110th United States Congress which, if passed, would impeach Vice… …   Wikipedia

  • Timeline of intelligent design — This timeline of intelligent design outlines the major events in the development of intelligent design as presented and promoted by the intelligent design movement.Creationism and Creation science*1920s: Fundamentalist Modernist Controversy – in… …   Wikipedia

  • Jencks v. United States — SCOTUSCase Litigants=Jencks v. United States ArgueDate=October 17 ArgueYear=1956 DecideDate=June 3 DecideYear=1957 FullName=Jencks v. United States, Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 23 USVol=353… …   Wikipedia

  • impeachment — /im peech meuhnt/, n. 1. the impeaching of a public official before an appropriate tribunal. 2. (in Congress or a state legislature) the presentation of formal charges against a public official by the lower house, trial to be before the upper… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”