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impinge

[im-pinj]
verb (used without object), im·pinged, im·ping·ing.
  1. 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.
  2. to encroach; infringe (usually followed by on or upon): to impinge on another's rights.
  3. to strike; dash; collide (usually followed by on, upon, or against): rays of light impinging on the eye.
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verb (used with object), im·pinged, im·ping·ing.
  1. Obsolete. to come into violent contact with.
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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. 2018

Related Words

infringeintrudeencroachdisturbviolateinfluencemeddleobtrudetouchaffectpryinvade

Examples from the Web for impinging

Historical Examples

  • And the mood he hated and feared was impinging upon his mind.

    The U.P. Trail

    Zane Grey

  • Trunnions and all impinging influences are incompatible with correctness of fire.

    Gunnery in 1858

    William Greener

  • He felt the curious glances of the chosen, impinging against his back.

  • But he did feel the wave of emotion that welled from her, impinging directly on his empathetic sense.

    Planet of the Damned

    Harry Harrison

  • The wet air was moveless, and yet she could feel it impinging with its cool, sharp humidity on her cheek.

    The Price of Love

    Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for impinging

impinge

verb
  1. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespassto impinge on someone's time
  2. (intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike
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Derived Formsimpingement, nounimpinger, noun

Word Origin

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 impinging

impinge

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper