impregn, v.
(ɪmˈpriːn)
Also 7 -prægn. Now only in poetic use.
[ad. late L. imprægnā-re to make pregnant, f. im- (im-1) + prægnāre to be pregnant. Cf. mod.F. imprégner (1690 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. trans. = impregnate v. 1, 2.
| c 1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden) I. 221 This woman..beinge impregned bie her husbande. 1647 H. More Song of Soul i. i. lviii, This all-spread Semele doth Bacchus bear, Impregn'd of Iove or On. 1748 Phil. Trans. XLV. 235 The Male impregns the Row which the Female has before deposited. |
| fig. a 1618 Sylvester Tropheis Henry Gt. 2 Since first Apollo lent the World his light, And Earth impregned with his heatfull might. 1657 Pierce Div. Philanthr. Ded. 6 Once he terribly miscarried with what he had long been imprægn'd. 1727–46 Thomson Summer 140 Th' unfruitful rock itself, impregn'd by thee, In dark retirement forms the lucid stone. 1839 Bailey Festus i. (1852) 3 All souls, impregned with spirit, God-begot. |
2. = impregnate v. 3, 4.
| 1652 Benlowes Theoph. (Fancie upon Theophila), Magnetick Virtue's in her Brest Impregn'd with Grace, the noblest Guest. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 737 His perswasive words impregn'd With Reason. a 1769 J. G. Cooper Hymn to Health (R.), No wholsome scents impregn the western gale. a 1834 Lamb Sonn. iii, Impregning with delights the charmed air. 188. R. G. H[ill] Voices Solit. 172 The substance I will impregn With my light. |
Hence
imˈpregned,
imˈpregning ppl. adjs.| 1641 Howell Vote in Lett. (1650) II. 129 The Ocean..Is not for sail, if an impregning wind Fill not the flagging canvas. 1647 H. More Song of Soul i. ii. v, True Soveraign Of working phancie when it floats amain With full impregned billows and strong rage. 1753 Scots Mag. XV. 76/1 To breathe the balm-impregned gale. |