impeach

[ im-peech ]
/ ɪmˈpitʃ /

verb (used with object)

to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.
Chiefly Law. to challenge the credibility of: to impeach a witness.
to bring an accusation against.
to call in question; cast an imputation upon: to impeach a person's motives.
to call to account.

noun

Obsolete. impeachment.

Origin of impeach

1350–1400; Middle English empechen, enpeshen < Anglo-French empecher < Late Latin impedicāre to fetter, trap, equivalent to Latin im- im-1 + pedic(a) a fetter (derivative of pēs foot) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM impeach

im·peach·er, noun un·im·peached, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for impeach

British Dictionary definitions for impeach

impeach
/ (ɪmˈpiːtʃ) /

verb (tr)

criminal law to bring a charge or accusation against
British criminal law to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state
mainly US to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office
to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc)

Derived forms of impeach

impeacher, noun

Word Origin for impeach

C14: from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from pēs foot