Wordwyrt

impale

/ˌɪmˈpeɪl/im-PAYL
/ˌɪmˈpeɪl/im-PAYL

Meaningto fix on a stake

Common meaning: to pierce with a sharp stake

‘in, into’ + ‘a stake, post’ → impale

Journey through time

  1. Latinpālus‘a stake, post’
  2. Englishimpale‘to pierce with a sharp stake’ · today

im- also in: imbibeimmureimpartimpedeimport

pal also in: palepalisade

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin pālus ‘a stake, post’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry pālus, p. 1295 · dictionary scan

Roots

  • pālus Latin “a stake, post”

Related words

palepalisade

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