impound
/ɪmˈpaʊ̯nd/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.47 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To collect and hold (funds) for payment of property taxes and insurance on property in which one has a security interest.
Transitive verb
noun
Amounts collected from a debtor and held by one with a security interest in property for payment of property taxes and insurance.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "His car was impounded after he parked it illegally."
- "Noveria Approach Control: Landing access granted, Normandy. Noveria Approach Control: Be advised: we will be confirming identification on arrival. If confirmation cannot be established, your vessel will be impounded."
- "water impounded by a dam"
- "to impound stray cattle"
- "to impound a document for safekeeping."
- "I particularly enjoyed the tale of the Folkestone tank engine, which, in October, 1886, was impounded by H. M. Customs after smuggled brandy was found concealed in its coal bunker; the tank spent over a month in a harbour siding under Customs seal and proceedings were seriously contemplated against the S.E.R., as well as against the crew, for the engine's part in the affair."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English im- English pound English impound From im- + pound.