L. Fr. In ecclesiastical law. One who is inducted and in possession ofa benefice. Parson imparsonee, (persona impersonata.) Cowell; Dyer, 40.

To accuse; to charge a liability upon ; to sue.To dispute, disparage, deny, or contradict; as, to impeach a judgment or decree; oras used in the rule that a jury cannot “impeach

A criminal proceeding against a public officer, before a quasipolitical court, instituted by a written accusation called “articles of impeachment;” forexample, a written accusation by the house of representatives of the United

To impeach, to accuse, or prosecute for felony or treason.

In old practice. One who hinders; an impedient. The defendant ordeforciant in a fine was sometimes so called. Cowell; Blount.

In Spanish law. A prohibition to contract marriage, established bylaw between certain persons.

Disabilities, or hindrances to the making of contracts, such ascoverture, infancy, want of reason, etc.In the civil law. Bars to marriage.Absolute impediments are those which prevent the person subject to them frommarrying

In old English law. A disturber in the action of quare impedit. St. Marlb.

Lat. In the civil law. Expenses ; outlays. Mackeld. Rom. Law,

See DIRECTORY.

Emperor. The title of the Roman emperors, and also of the Kings ofEngland before the Norman conquest. Cod. 1, 14, 12; 1 Bl. Comm. 242. See EMPEROR.

As used in various legal compound terms, this word means defective orincomplete; wanting in some legal or formal requisite; wanting in legal sanction oreffectiveness; as in speaking of imperfect “obligations,” “ownership,” “rights,”

Lat. Unskillfulness; want of skill.Imperitia culpa! adnumeratur. Want of skill is reckoned as culpa; that is, as blamableconduct or neglect. Dig. 50, 17, 132.Imperitia est maxima mechanicorum poena. Unskillfulness is the greatest

The right to command, which includes the right to employ the force ofthe state to enforce the laws. This is one of the principal attributes of the power of theexecutive. 1 Toullier,

Lit. Impersonality. A mode of expression where no reference ismade to any person, such as the expression “ut dieit ur,” (as is said.) Co. Litt. 3526.Impersonalitas non concludit nec ligat. Co. Litt.

Irrelevancy; the fault of not properly pertaining to the issue orproceeding. The introduction of any matters into a bill, answer, or other pleading orproceeding in a suit, which are not properly before

In old records. To impeach or accuse. Impescatus, impeached. Blount.

Impeachment of waste, (q. v.)

In old English practice. To obtain by request, as a writ or privilege.Bract, fols. 57, 1726. This application of the word seems to be derived from the civillaw. Calvin.

Umpire, (q. v.)