| impregnate | Impregnated; made prolific. "The scorching ray Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease." (Byron) Origin: LL. Impraegnatus, p. P. 1. To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young. 2. <biology> To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate. 3. To infuse an active principle into; to render frutful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue. 4. To infuse particles of another substance into; to communicate the quality of another to; to cause to be filled, imbued, mixed, or furnished (with something); as, to impregnate India rubber with sulphur; clothing impregnated with contagion; rock impregnated with ore. Origin: LL. Impraegnatus, p. P. Of impraegnare to impregnate, fr. L. Pref. Im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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