impregnate
/ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/ verb, adjective
Forms impregnates impregnating impregnated
- verb (transitive) To cause to become pregnant. “I was impregnated at a clinic but don't know who the sperm donor is.”
- verb (transitive) To fertilize.
- verb (transitive) To saturate, or infuse.
- verb (transitive) To fill pores or spaces with a substance.
- verb (intransitive, dated) To become pregnant.
- adjective (as a participle) Impregnated (all senses).
- adjective Pregnant, with child.
- adjective (figuratively) Rendered fruitful, prolific.
- adjective Imbued, saturated, permeated or filled with.
- adjective (mistakenly) Impregnable.
Synonyms
knock up inseminate cover get with child inwomb settle infuse instill tincture saturate bang up prang up
Antonyms
Etymology
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.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young.
- verb To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate.
- verb To become pregnant. Addison.
- adjective Impregnated; made prolific.
Etymology [LL. impraegnatus, p. p. of impraegnare to impregnate, fr. L. pref. im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant.]
Etymology [LL. impraegnatus, p. p.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “impregnate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details