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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Impesch(e, v. Also: impesh, inpesche, impeish, impeas(c)he, impeach(e, impaisch. [e.m.E. ympeshe, impeshe (1548–67), impeach(e (1563). Cf. Empesch(e and Impas(c)he.]

tr. To hinder, impede, obstruct, delay, prevent. In various contexts.(1) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 133.
Thay had sic confidence in thair … manheid, that na power of erdly creatouris micht impesche thaim fra thair purpos Id. Livy I. 84/5.
Tarquyne … began to big ane wall … , and in the mene tyme was impeschit be the weris of Sabynis 1549 Compl. 176/32.
The Romans brak thare arraye to ryn to impesche the takyng of the said hil 1580 Cath. Tr. 43/19.
Sen the faith of parents can not impesche thame to be borne in originall sinne 1594 Crim. Trials I. 341.
And so … he was impeshed and haldin bak fra that quhilk … he wes maist willing vnto a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 101.
[They] pat in garrisons … to impesh all kynd of meat, drink [etc.] … to be broght in 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 80.
We amused them, saying my lady was impeshed hearing the comptes of her domestick officiers(2) 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 233.
I will nocht impesche your grace with na ferther writin 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 102 b.
Quha vithdrawis the preist … from the aultar, to impesh him vith vardlie effaris 1605 Misc. Spald. C. II. 150.
Humbly craiffing your Majestys pardon that I suld impaisch your hienes more than serious adois 1624 Gordon Earls Sutherland 381.
We will forbear to impeash your maiestie any further 1637 Maxwell Mem. II. 264.
He hes not writtin, being impeishet be multitud of bussiniss 1639 Baillie I. 181.
I would have been loath to have impeshed your lordship with any of my motions(3) 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 148/18.
The Romanis, impeschit with civill batallis, had sic difficulte to hald the south partis of Britan 1533 Boece viii. viii. 267.
Chaissing thame to the nixt flude, quhare … thai slewe thame, impeschit be glar and slike 1549 Compl. 4/11.
The multitude of infidelis … quhilkis impeschit hym in that barbir straynge cuntre be diuerse cruel battellis 1581 Burne Cath. Tr. 110/30.
Thay commandit the jayvler to impesch my letteris of supplicatione 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvii. 30.
By kirk-buriall … the passage [is] so impeshed with thortersome throughes 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 66.
Hardlie can anie man walke apoun the streets … bot they ar impeshed be beggarlie lymmaris(4) 1533 Boece ix. i. 287 b.
That na noyis in the chalmer suld be herd quharethrow his rest mycht be impeschit 1602 Colville Parænese 126.
Nether suld thai think that it can much impesch thair helth 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æn. i. 1008.
All living things … did rest, … Save she whose wakeing thoughts impeacht her sleep 1625 Garden Kings 42.
No new wproars … Impesched his peace(5) c1590 J. Stewart 33/126.
To sie this ladie so impesched vith pyn a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xv. 46.
No wo, vhen I aualk, May me impesh(6) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vi. 11.
I feill a byll within my bosum beill; No cataplasme can weill impesh that pest a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 193.
To knaw … geve he war impeshit of his libbertie and utherwayis gairdit then he wont to be