Impregnate

//ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Impregnated (all senses). obsolete, rare
  2. 2
    Pregnant, with child. obsolete, rare
  3. 3
    Rendered fruitful, prolific. figuratively, obsolete, rare
  4. 4
    Imbued, saturated, permeated or filled with. obsolete, rare

    "There Juno stopped, and, her fair steeds unloosed, Of air condensed a vapour circumfused: For these, impregnate with celestial dew, On Simoïs' brink ambrosial herbage grew."

  5. 5
    Impregnable. obsolete, rare
Verb
  1. 1
    To cause to become pregnant. transitive

    "I was impregnated at a clinic but don't know who the sperm donor is."

  2. 2
    make pregnant wordnet
  3. 3
    To fertilize. transitive
  4. 4
    fertilize and cause to grow wordnet
  5. 5
    To saturate, or infuse. transitive

    "To Tartarize, ta²r'ta⁴r-i¹ze, v. a. To impregnate with tartar."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    infuse or fill completely wordnet
  2. 7
    To fill pores or spaces with a substance. transitive

    "It takes a little time for the personal fatty acids to impregnate new shoes or boots, but from the scent point of view leather is a sponge, and the personal scent is left."

  3. 8
    fill, as with a certain quality wordnet
  4. 9
    To become pregnant. dated, intransitive

    "Were they, like Spanish Jennets, to impregnate by the Wind, they could not have thought on a more proper Invention."

Etymology

Etymology 1

The adjective is first attested in 1540, the verb in 1605; borrowed from Medieval Latin impraegnātus, perfect passive participle of Latin impraegnō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of impregn; participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Etymology 2

The adjective is first attested in 1540, the verb in 1605; borrowed from Medieval Latin impraegnātus, perfect passive participle of Latin impraegnō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of impregn; participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

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