impregn

English

Etymology

First attested in the early 15th century, in Middle English; from Middle English impregnen (“to make a woman pregnant, impregnate”), from Old French enpreignier, enpreigner (French imprégner), ultimately from Medieval Latin impraegnō. Doublet of impregnate.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪmˈpɹiːn/

Verb

impregn (third-person singular simple present impregns, present participle impregning, simple past and past participle impregned)

  1. (now rare, poetic) To impregnate; to make fruitful.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
      his perswasive words, impregn’d
      With Reason
    • 1642, Henry More, The Life of the Soul:
      Semele doth Bacchus bear / Impregned of Jove.
    • a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC:
      Th' unfruitful rock, itself impregn'd by thee,⁠ / In dark retirement forms the lucid stone.

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