Etymograph

English

impregn

Impregn comes from Middle English impregnen ‘to make a woman pregnant, impregnate’, and goes back to Old French enpreignier.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400enpreignier
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500impregnen‘to make a woman pregnant, impregnate’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1642impregn

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400enpreignier
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500impregnen‘to make a woman pregnant, impregnate’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1642impregn

Earliest quotation: 1642, Henry More: “Semele doth Bacchus bear / Impregned of Jove.”

first attested First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English impregnen (‘to make a woman pregnant, impregnate’), from Old French enpreignier, enpreigner (French imprégner), ultimately from Medieval Latin impraegnō.

Every English word from Old French enpreignier

Today it means

verb To impregnate; to make fruitful.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old French enpreignier / impregn

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