— impeacher , n.
/im peech"/ , v.t.
1. to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.
2. Chiefly Law. to challenge the credibility of: to impeach a witness.
3. to bring an accusation against.
4. to call in question; cast an imputation upon: to impeach a person's motives.
5. to call to account.
n.
6. Obs. impeachment.
[ 1350-1400; ME empechen, enpeshen empecher impedicare to fetter, trap, equiv. to L im- IM- 1 + pedic ( a ) a fetter (deriv. of pes FOOT) + -a- thematic vowel + -re inf. suffix ]
Syn. 4. question, challenge, impugn.