impale Hear it!

impale Definition

im·pale (im pāl)

transitive verb -·paled, -·pal·ing

  1. Rare to surround with or as with a palisade
    1. to pierce through with, or fix on, something pointed; transfix
    2. to punish or torture by fixing on a stake
  2. to make helpless, as if fixed on a stake impaled by her glance
  3. Heraldry to join (two coats of arms) side by side on one shield

Etymology: Fr empaler < ML impalare < L in-, on + palus, a stake, pole

impale Related Forms
im·pale·ment noun
impale Synonyms

impale

v.

impale Usage Examples

Object

  • arm: His badge of office is the shield of St George impaling the arms of the Sovereign, all within a Garter.
  • head: The Queen had their heads impaled on spikes on the city walls of York.
  • people: For a Chinese game you'd expect some oriental music while you impale people at least.
  • man: Has a well trimmed wiry beard which tapers to a point that could probably impale a man.
  • body: He also lined the approaches to the city on the right hand and on the left, for miles, with impaled bodies.
  • coat: When used in an impaled coat the bordure is not continued around the inner side.

Preposition: on

  • spike: The Queen had their heads impaled on spikes on the city walls of York.
  • hook: Cut fish baits can simply be impaled on the hook in a similar manner to ' J ' hooks.
  • stake: The arrows flew thick and fast, and those men-at-arms who charged the archers found their horses impaled on the stakes.
  • spear: He lost his first life in Series 10 while spirit traveling when he was impaled on a spear.
  • railing: He fell out of a window while painting and was impaled on metal railings.
  • stick: See him profoundly tortured, flayed, and impaled on a stick, that is.

Adjective complement

  • argent: They depict the See of Oxford impaling argent an eagle sable charged with a mullet argent.
  • quarterly: Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, impaling quarterly France and England within a Bord, Argent and Azure.

Modifying Another Word

  • accidentally: During the struggle, Logan accidentally impaled Rose on his claws, killing her.
  • then: Several hundred were roughly daubed with paint, of various colors, and each was then impaled on a pin.

Preposition: in

  • mouth: Fish experience pain and fear and suffer greatly when they are impaled in the mouth and torn from the water.

Browse dictionary entries near impale

  1. impala
  2. impaired credit
  3. impaired capital
  4. impaired
  5. impair
  6. impactive
  7. impacted
  8. impact rule
  9. impact
  10. imp gal
  1. impalpable
  2. impanation
  3. impanel
  4. imparadise
  5. imparity
  6. impark
  7. impart
  8. impartial
  9. impartiality
  10. impartible