impeach

Meaning

Verb

• To hinder, impede, or prevent.
• To bring a legal proceeding against a public official.
• To charge with impropriety; to discredit; to call into question.
• To demonstrate in court that a testimony under oath contradicts another testimony from the same person, usually one taken during deposition.

Origin

• From Middle English empechen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman empecher, from Old French empeechier, from Latin impedicō ("to fetter"). Cognate with French empêcher.