impracticable, a. (n.)
(ɪmˈpræktɪkəb(ə)l)
Also 7 inp-.
[f. im-2 + practicable: cf. F. impraticable (16th c.).]
1. Not practicable; that cannot be carried out, effected, accomplished, or done; practically impossible.
| a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1810) I. 252 To attempt things impossible or impracticable. 1696 Lond. Gaz. No. 3226/2 Finding that design inpracticable. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 244 Such distrust would render the exercise of that power precarious and impracticable. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxv. 182 Balmat pronounced the passage impracticable. |
2. That cannot be put to use or practically dealt with; unmanageable, intractable, unserviceable. a. Of things generally.
| 1717 S. Clarke Leibnitz' 5th Paper 181 The Fiction of a material finite Universe, moving forward in an infinite empty Space, cannot be admitted. It is altogether unreasonable and impracticable. 1821 Craig Lect. Drawing ii. 113 The colours become stiff and impracticable soon after they are applied. 1838 W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1866) III. 123 Millions of acres which might..have remained idle and impracticable wastes. |
b. Of roads, districts, etc.: Incapable of being used for passage; impossible to pass along, over, through, or to; impassable or inaccessible.
| 1653 Cromwell Sp. 4 July in Carlyle, The way they were going in would be impracticable. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 165 ¶5 They took Post behind a great Morass which they thought impracticable. 1847 Grote Greece ii. xl. (1862) III. 435 The pass appeared impracticable. 1871 L. Stephen Playgr. Europe iii. (1894) 78 Cliffs so steep as to be perfectly impracticable. |
c. Of persons, or their dispositions, etc.: Incapable of being ‘managed’, influenced, or persuaded; impossible to deal with or get on with; intractable, stubborn.
| 1713 Rowe Jane Shore i. i, And yet, this tough impracticable Heart Is govern'd by a dainty-finger'd Girl. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man ii. i, A poor impracticable creature! 1809 Malkin Gil Blas x. xi. (Rtldg.) 377 Scipio..is one of those impracticable beings, on whom good example, good advice, and a good horsewhip, are equally thrown away. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. vii. 203 Fisher must have been a hopelessly impracticable person. |
B. as n. An impracticable person: see 2 c.
| 1829 Bengalee 13, I was looked upon as an utter impracticable. 1870 Emerson Soc. & Solit. ix. 187 Then the heady men, the egotists..the steriles, and the impracticables. |