impregnate

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.

Verb

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪmpɹɛɡneɪt/, /ɪmˈpɹɛɡneɪt/

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Adjective

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪmprɛɡnət/, /ɪmˈprɛɡnət/

impregnate (third-person singular simple present impregnates, present participle impregnating, simple past and past participle impregnated)

1. (transitive) To cause to become pregnant.

   Synonyms: knock up, inseminate, (of animals) cover

   I was impregnated at a clinic but don't know who the sperm donor is.

   • 1903 [1901], Maurice Maeterlinck, translated by Alfred Sutro, The Life of the Bee, New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company, page 264:

     The queen at their head, the representative of the future, has not yet been impregnated. Their entire destiny depends on the ensuing nuptial flight.

2. (transitive) To fertilize.
3. (transitive) To saturate, or infuse.
   • 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] ‎^[1], London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 498:

     To Tartarize, ta²r'ta⁴r-i¹ze, v. a.
     To impregnate with tartar.

   • 1835, Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology […] , 4th edition, volume III, London: John Murray, Book IV, page 322:

     We find those charæ which secrete the largest quantity of calcareous matter in their stems to abound near springs impregnated with carbonate of lime.

4. (transitive) To fill pores or spaces with a substance.
   • 1937, Hugh Bertie Campbell Pollard, The mystery of scent, page 121:

     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.

5. (intransitive, dated) To become pregnant.
   • 2025 August 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, August 1, 2025”, in The Spectator, number (please specify the issue number); republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume (please either specify the issue number or |volume=I to VI), New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

     Were they, like Spanish Jennets, to impregnate by the Wind, they could not have thought on a more proper Invention.

     The spelling has been modernized.

impregnate (comparative more impregnate, superlative most impregnate) (rare, obsolete)

1. (as a participle) Impregnated (all senses).
2. Pregnant, with child.
3. (figuratively) Rendered fruitful, prolific.
4. Imbued, saturated, permeated or filled with.
   • 1715-20, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, book V. v.968:

     There Juno stopped, and, her fair steeds unloosed,
     Of air condensed a vapour circumfused:
     For these, impregnate with celestial dew,
     On Simoïs' brink ambrosial herbage grew.

5. (mistakenly) Impregnable.

• conceive
• sire
• father

• permeating, rimegepant

• IPA^(key): /impreɡˈnate/
• Rhymes: -ate
• Hyphenation: im‧preg‧na‧te

impregnate

1. present adverbial passive participle of impregni

• IPA^(key): /impreɡˈnate/
• Hyphenation: im‧preg‧na‧te

impregnate

1. adverbial present passive participle of impregnar

• IPA^(key): /im.preɲˈɲa.te/
• Rhymes: -ate
• Hyphenation: im‧pre‧gnà‧te

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

impregnàte

1. inflection of impregnare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

impregnàte f pl

1. feminine plural of impregnato

• pigmentare, pigmenterà, pigramente

• IPA^(key): /impɾeɡˈnate/ [ĩm.pɾeɣ̞ˈna.t̪e]
• Rhymes: -ate
• Syllabification: im‧preg‧na‧te

impregnate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of impregnar combined with te