impediment

The definition of an impediment is an obstacle or something that prevents action.

(noun)

An example of impediment is a rain storm for a ball game.

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See impediment in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. Now Rare an impeding or being impeded; obstruction
  2. anything that impedes; specif.,
    1. a speech defect; stutter, lisp, stammer, etc.
    2. anything preventing the making of a legal contract, esp. of a marriage contract
    3. R.C.Ch. anything making marriage or ordination invalid or illicit

Origin: ME < L impedimentum, hindrance

See impediment in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Something that impedes; a hindrance or obstruction. See Synonyms at obstacle.
  2. An organic defect preventing clear articulation: a speech impediment.
  3. Law Something that obstructs the making of a legal contract.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin impedīmentum

Origin: , from impedīre, to impede; see impede

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Related Forms:

  • im·pedˌi·menˈtal (-mĕnˈtl), im·pedˌi·menˈta·ry (-mĕnˈtə-rē) adjective

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