impregnate
/ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.49 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "I was impregnated at a clinic but don't know who the sperm donor is."
- "A speech impregnated with references to the Constitution."
- "The queen at their head, the representative of the future, has not yet been impregnated. Their entire destiny depends on the ensuing nuptial flight."
- "To Tartarize, ta²r'ta⁴r-i¹ze, v. a. To impregnate with tartar."
- "We find those charæ which secrete the largest quantity of calcareous matter in their stems to abound near springs impregnated with carbonate of lime."
- "It takes a little time for the personal fatty acids to impregnate new shoes or boots, but from the scent point of view leather is a sponge, and the personal scent is left."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: impraegnō
Usage
Inflected Forms
impregnates (present, singular)
impregnating (participle, present)
impregnated (participle, past)
impregnated (past)
more impregnate (comparative)
most impregnate (superlative)