English
impediment
Impediment comes from Latin impedimentum ‘impediment, hindrance’, from pēs ‘feet’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ped- ‘to walk, to step’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ped-‘to walk, to step’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpēs‘feet’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpedio‘to hinder, impede, prevent, obstruct, hamper, thwart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpedimentum‘impediment, hindrance’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500impediment
- Englishearliest quotation 1549same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ped-‘to walk, to step’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpēs‘feet’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpedio‘to hinder, impede, prevent, obstruct, hamper, thwart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpedimentum‘impediment, hindrance’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500impediment
- Englishearliest quotation 1549same form
Earliest quotation: 1549, Thomas Cranmer et al., Of Matrimonye: “I require and charge you (as you will aunswere…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ped- ‘to walk, to step’
feet, foot, pilot, pie, fetch, expedition, pawn, podium, pew, pug, baht, impeachment, fet, expedite, ped, puy, fetter, pada, poy, tripos, quadruped, 51 more
through Latin pēs ‘feet’
pioneer, pedestrian, pedal, pedigree, pes, petiole, pedicure, centipede, peon, expeditious, pedometer, biped, pedicel, pedicle, 13 more
Today it means
noun A hindrance; that which impedes or obstructs progress; impedance.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ped- / impediment