from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Impeach \Im*peach"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Impeached}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Impeaching}.] [OE. empeechier to prevent, hinder,
bar, F. emp[^e]cher, L. impedicare to entangle; pref. im- in
+ pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and
{Appeach}, {Dispatch}, {Impede}.]
1. To hinder; to impede; to prevent. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach
his journey to the Holy Land. --Sir J.
Davies.
[1913 Webster]
A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance.
--Howell.
[1913 Webster]
2. To charge with a crime or misdemeanor; to accuse;
especially to charge (a public officer), before a
competent tribunal, with misbehavior in office; to cite
before a tribunal for judgment of official misconduct; to
arraign; as, to impeach a judge. See {Impeachment}.
[1913 Webster]
3. Hence, to charge with impropriety; to dishonor; to bring
discredit on; to call in question; as, to impeach one's
motives or conduct.
[1913 Webster]
And doth impeach the freedom of the state. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Law) To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of
a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper.
[1913 Webster]
Note: When used in law with reference to a witness, the term
signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or
unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the
credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to
lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a
witness may be impeached by showing that he has made
statements out of court contradictory to what he swears
at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for
veracity is bad, etc.
Syn: To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair;
disparage; discredit. See {Accuse}.
[1913 Webster]