\Im*peach"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Impeached}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Impeaching}.] [OE. empeechier to prevent, hinder,
bar, F. emp[^e]cher, L. impedicare to entangle; pref. im- in
+ pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See {Foot}, and
{Appeach}, {Dispatch}, {Impede}.]
1. To hinder; to impede; to prevent. [Obs.]
         These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach
         his journey to the Holy Land.         --Sir J.
                                               Davies.
         A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance.
                                               --Howell.
2. To charge with a crime or misdemeanor; to accuse;
   especially to charge (a public officer), before a
   competent tribunal, with misbehavior in office; to cite
   before a tribunal for judgement of official misconduct; to
   arraign; as, to impeach a judge. See {Impeachment}.
3. Hence, to charge with impropriety; to dishonor; to bring
   discredit on; to call in question; as, to impeach one's
   motives or conduct.
         And doth impeach the freedom of the state. --Shak.
4. (Law) To challenge or discredit the credibility of, as of
   a witness, or the validity of, as of commercial paper.
Note: When used in law with reference to a witness, the term
      signifies, to discredit, to show or prove unreliable or
      unworthy of belief; when used in reference to the
      credit of witness, the term denotes, to impair, to
      lessen, to disparage, to destroy. The credit of a
      witness may be impeached by showing that he has made
      statements out of court contradictory to what he swears
      at the trial, or by showing that his reputation for
      veracity is bad, etc.
Syn: To accuse; arraign; censure; criminate; indict; impair;
     disparage; discredit. See {Accuse}.

\Im*peach"\, n.
Hindrance; impeachment. [Obs.]