impedimenta

American  

[im-ped-uh-men-tuh] / ɪmˌpɛd əˈmɛn tə /

plural noun

1. baggage or other things that retard one's progress, as supplies carried by an army.

   the impedimenta of the weekend skier.

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impedimenta British  

/ ɪmˌpɛdɪˈmɛntə /

plural noun

1. the baggage and equipment carried by an army

2. any objects or circumstances that impede progress

3. a plural of impediment

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Etymology

Origin of impedimenta

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin: literally, “traveling gear, luggage, baggage,” plural of impedīmentum impediment

Example Sentences

Mr. Grossman photographed the hirsute quartet juxtaposed against a jungle of television cameras, amplifiers and other backstage impedimenta, and he shot from the balcony to capture their electrifying effect on the audience.

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2023

Astor Place had the impedimenta landlords left on the sidewalk after old tenants died.

From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2020

Between the driver and passenger seats there was a large, raised, shag-pile-carpeted area, which I was using to lay out my various writerly impedimenta: voice recorder, notebook, pens and so forth.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2017

Pearl Harbor is still growing; the land area surrounding it is still being covered with new hundreds of acres of warehouses, shops and all the other impedimenta of a rear base.

From Time Magazine Archive

She wore no necklace, but from her belt was suspended a large square bag made entirely of overlapping plates of gold, in which doubtless she carried the various impedimenta that her sister exhibited.

From The Dorrance Domain by Wells, Carolyn