impinge

[im-pinj]

verb (used without object), im·pinged, im·ping·ing.

to make an impression; have an effect or impact (usually followed by on or upon): to impinge upon the imagination; social pressures that impinge upon one's daily life.

to encroach; infringe (usually followed by on or upon): to impinge on another's rights.

to strike; dash; collide (usually followed by on, upon, or against): rays of light impinging on the eye.

verb (used with object), im·pinged, im·ping·ing.

Obsolete. to come into violent contact with.

Origin of impinge

1525–35; < Medieval Latin impingere to strike against, drive at, equivalent to Latin im- im-¹ + -pingere, combining form of pangere to fasten, drive in, fix; see impact

Related formsim·ping·ent, adjectiveim·ping·er, nounim·pinge·ment, nounun·im·ping·ing, adjective

Can be confusedinfringe impinge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for impinged

infringe, intrude, encroach, disturb, violate, influence, meddle, obtrude, touch, affect, pry, invade

Examples from the Web for impinged

Historical Examples of impinged

Bullets whizzed through the 'plane, and one or two impinged on the engine.
The Sequel
George A. Taylor
The corner of the raft had impinged against some ice that was piled on the beach.
Klondike Nuggets
E. S. Ellis
I knew all the symptoms so well—the things he had 'in him,' and the things outside him that impinged!
Tales Of Men And Ghosts
Edith Wharton
That was the lady's hand, flat open, impinged on the speaker's cheek.
Bulldog Carney
W. A. Fraser
It was revealed in many ways, but impinged upon the new President in only one.
Lincoln
Nathaniel Wright Stephenson

British Dictionary definitions for impinged

impinge

verb

(intr; usually foll by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespassto impinge on someone's time

(intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike

Derived Formsimpingement, nounimpinger, noun

Word Origin for impinge

C16: from Latin impingere to drive at, dash against, from pangere to fasten, drive in

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for impinged

impinge

1530s, "fasten or fix forcibly," from Latin impingere "drive into, strike against," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + pangere "to fix, fasten" (see pact). Sense of "encroach, infringe" first recorded 1738. Related: Impinged; impinging.