impeach

Where does the word "impeach" come from? It comes from Late Latin impedicare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Impeach’s story begins in Late Latin: impedicare meant “to fetter.” 'in-' plus 'pedica', fetter, from 'pes', foot. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as empeechier. From Late Latin 'pedica', fetter, from 'pes', foot. It reached English by 1300s as impeach. The political sense of charging an official dates from the 1600s. Today, impeach means to charge a public official with misconduct.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient impedicare "to fetter", 'in-' plus 'pedica', fetter, from 'pes', foot.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval empeechier "to hinder", from Late Latin 'pedica', fetter, from 'pes', foot.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s impeach "to hinder", the political sense of charging an official dates from the 1600s.