impediment
/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/ noun
Forms impediments
- noun A hindrance; that which impedes or obstructs progress; impedance.
- noun A disability, especially one affecting the hearing or speech. “Working in a noisy factory left me with a slight hearing impediment.”
- noun (chiefly in the plural) Baggage, especially that of an army; impedimenta.
Synonyms
hindrance obstruction obstacle hinderance deterrent balk baulk check handicap obstructor obstructer impedimenta
Etymology
From Middle English impediment, borrowed from Latin impedimentum.
Webster’s 1913
- noun That which impedes or hinders progress, motion, activity, or effect.
- verb To impede. [R.] Bp. Reynolds.
Etymology [L. impedimentum: cf. F. impediment.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “impediment”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details