英文字典中文字典Word104.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Imp \Imp\ ([i^]mp), n. [OE. imp a graft, AS. impa; akin to Dan.
ympe, Sw. ymp, prob. fr. LL. impotus, Gr. ? engrafted,
innate, fr. ? to implant; ? in ? to produce; akin to E. be.
See 1st {In-}, {Be}.]
1. A shoot; a scion; a bud; a slip; a graft. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]

2. An offspring; progeny; child; scion. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

The tender imp was weaned. --Fairfax.
[1913 Webster]

3. A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a
puny demon; a contemptible evil worker.
[1913 Webster]

To mingle in the clamorous fray
Of squabbling imps. --Beattie.
[1913 Webster]

4. Something added to, or united with, another, to lengthen
it out or repair it, -- as, an addition to a beehive; a
feather inserted in a broken wing of a bird; a length of
twisted hair in a fishing line. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]


Imp \Imp\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Imped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Imping}.] [AS. impian to imp, ingraft, plant; akin to Dan.
ympe, Sw. ympa, OHG. impf[=o]n, impit[=o]n, G. impfen. See
{Imp}, n.]
1. To graft; to insert as a scion. [Obs.] --Rom. of R.
[1913 Webster]

2. (Falconry) To graft with new feathers, as a wing; to
splice a broken feather. Hence, [Fig.]: To repair; to
extend; to increase; to strengthen; to equip. [Archaic]
[1913 Webster]

Imp out our drooping country's broken wing. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Who lazily imp their wings with other men's plumes.
--Fuller.
[1913 Webster]

Here no frail Muse shall imp her crippled wing.
--Holmes.
[1913 Webster]

Help, ye tart satirists, to imp my rage
With all the scorpions that should whip this age.
--Cleveland.
[1913 Webster]