Impediment

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: im=ped=i=ment

CIDE DICTIONARY

Impediment, n. [L. impedimentum: cf. F. impediment.].

 That which impedes or hinders progress, motion, activity, or effect.  [1913 Webster]
"Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we marched on without impediment."  [1913 Webster]
"The eloquence of Demosthenes was to Philip of Macedon, a difficulty to be met with his best resources, an obstacle to his own ambition, and an impediment in his political career."  [1913 Webster]

Impediment in speech, a defect which prevents distinct utterance.

Syn. -- Hindrance; obstruction; obstacle; difficulty; incumbrance.

Impediment, v. t. 

 To impede.  Bp. Reynolds.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Impediment, n.
1 a hindrance or obstruction.
2 a defect in speech, e.g. a lisp or stammer.

Derivative

impedimental adj.

Etymology

ME f. L impedimentum (as IMPEDE)

THESAURUS

Impediment

arrest, arrestation, arrestment, bar, barrier, blank wall, blind alley, blind gut, block, blockade, blockage, blocking, bottleneck, burden, burthen, cargo, cecum, charge, check, choking, choking off, clog, clogging, closing up, closure, congestion, constipation, constriction, costiveness, cramp, cross, cul-de-sac, cumbrance, curb, dead end, deadweight, delay, detainment, detention, difficulty, disadvantage, embarrassment, embolism, embolus, encumbrance, fixation, foot-dragging, freight, gorge, hamper, hampering, handicap, hang-up, hindering, hindrance, hitch, hold-up, holdback, holdup, hurdle, impasse, impedance, impedimenta, imposition, inconvenience, infarct, infarction, inhibition, interference, interruption, jam, let, load, lumber, mountain, negativism, nuisance value, obstacle, obstipation, obstruction, obstructionism, occlusion, onus, opposition, pack, penalty, repression, resistance, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, rub, sealing off, setback, snag, squeeze, stop, stoppage, stranglehold, strangulation, stricture, stumbling block, suppression, trouble, weight, white elephant

ROGET THESAURUS

Impediment

Hindrance

N hindrance, prevention, preclusion, obstruction, stoppage, embolus, embolism, infarct, interruption, interception, interclusion, hindrance, impedition, retardment, retardation, embarrassment, oppilation, coarctation, stricture, restriction, restraint, inhibition, blockade, interference, interposition, obtrusion, discouragement, discountenance, impediment, let, obstacle, obstruction, knot, knag, check, hitch, contretemps, screw loose, grit in the oil, bar, stile, barrier, turnstile, turnpike, gate, portcullis, beaver dam, trocha, barricade, wall, dead wall, sea wall, levee breakwater, groyne, bulkhead, block, buffer, stopper, boom, dam, weir, burrock, drawback, objection, stumbling-block, stumbling-stone, lion in the path, snag, snags and sawyers, encumbrance, incumbrance, clog, skid, shoe, spoke, drag, drag chain, drag weight, stay, stop, preventive, prophylactic, load, burden, fardel, onus, millstone round one's neck, impedimenta, dead weight, lumber, pack, nightmare, Ephialtes, incubus, old man of the sea, remora, difficulty, insuperable, obstacle, estoppel, ill wind, head wind, trammel, tether, hold back, counterpoise, damper, wet blanket, hinderer, marplot, killjoy, party pooper, party crasher, interloper, trail of a red herring, opponent, hindering, obstructive, obstruent, impeditive, impedient, intercipient, prophylactic, impedimentary, in the way of, unfavorable, onerous, burdensome, cumbrous, cumbersome, obtrusive, hindered, windbound, waterlogged, heavy laden, hard pressed, unassisted &c (assist), single-handed, alone, deserted, occurrent nubes.