Imp

/ɪmp/ · verb

Meaning

(obsolete) To engraft or plant (a plant or part of one, a sapling, etc.)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete) To engraft or plant (a plant or part of one, a sapling, etc.).
2. (figuratively, archaic) To graft or implant (something other than a plant); to fix or set (something) in.
3. (falconry, veterinary medicine) To engraft (a feather) on to a broken feather in a bird's wing or tail to repair it; to engraft (feathers) on to a bird, or a bird's wing or tail.
4. To provide (someone or something) with wings, hence enabling them or it to soar.
5. To add to or unite an object with (something) to lengthen the latter out or repair it; to eke out, enlarge, strengthen.
6. (chiefly fiction and mythology) A small, mischievous sprite or a malevolent supernatural creature, somewhat comparable to a demon but smaller and less powerful, formerly regarded as the child of the devil or a demon (see sense 3.2).
7. A mischievous child.
8. A baby Tasmanian devil.

Example Sentences

That headleſſe tyrants tronke he reard from ground, / And, having ympt the head to it agayne, / Vpon his vſuall beaſt it firmely bound, / And made it ſo to ride, as it aliue was found.

I have known feathers so imped that the eye could not discern the place of juncture, and it was difficult even to discover it by passing the thumb-nail down the shaft of the imped feather.

Bird rehabilitators borrow a trick from falconry with the age-old process of imping flight feathers on to a damaged bird.

[page 246, column 1] Feather damage is a serious problem for any bird. […] Repairing or imping broken feathers is a very good option in these cases and may save months or even a year in captivity. […] [page 250, column 1] Note that a feather can usually only be imped once since it is very difficult or impossible to remove and then replace an imping needle from within a feather shaft after it has been glued in place.

With thee / Let me combine, / And feel this day thy victorie: / For, if I imp my wing on thine, / Affliction ſhall advance the flight in me.

"Yes, there are a great, great many coming after us; at least a score," said the lad.—"Well, that's the troll," said the horse; "he is coming after us with his imps."

It was as if there were little imps dancing in my mouth, and every so often, when a situation arose, they'd get together, giggle wickedly, and try to push words out of my open mouth.

Concourſe, and noiſe, and toil, he ever fled; / Nor cared to mingle in the clamorous fray / Of ſquabbling imps; but to the foreſt ſped, / Or roam'd at large the lonely mountain's head; […]

Synonyms for imp

Antonyms for imp

Related Words

Word Forms

• imps
• imping
• imped

Usage Notes

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