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imperative (n.)[imperative 词源字典]: mid-15c., in grammar; later "something imperative" (c. 1600), from Old French imperatif and directly from Late Latin imperativus (see imperative (adj.)).[imperative etymology, imperative origin, 英语词源]
imperator (n.): "commander-in-chief," Latin agent noun from stem of imperare "to command" (see imperative). In the Roman republic, a commander; in the Roman Empire, the emperor.
imperceptibility (n.): 1670s, from imperceptible + -ity.
imperceptible (adj.): early 15c., from French imperceptible (early 15c.), from Medieval Latin imperceptibilis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + perceptibilis (see perceptible). Related: Imperceptibly. OED marks imperceivable as "Now rare."
imperfect (adj.): mid-14c., imperfite, from Old French imparfait, from Latin imperfectus "unfinished, incomplete," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + perfectus (see perfect). Replaced mid-16c. by the Latin form. Related: Imperfectly.
imperfection (n.): late 14c., from Old French imperfeccion (12c.) and directly from Late Latin imperfectionem (nominative imperfectio), from imperfectus (see imperfect).
imperforate (adj.): 1670s, from im- + perforate (adj.).
imperial (adj.): late 14c., "having a commanding quality," from Old French imperial (12c.), from Latin imperialis "of the empire or emperor," from imperium (see empire). Meaning "pertaining to an empire" (especially the Roman) is from late 14c. Imperial presidency in a U.S. context traces to Arthur Schlesinger Jr.'s book on the Nixon administration (1974). Related: Imperially.
imperialism (n.): 1826, "advocacy of empire," originally in a Napoleonic context, also of Rome and of British foreign policy, from imperial + -ism. At times in British usage (and briefly in U.S.) with a neutral or positive sense relating to national interests or the spread of the benefits of Western civilization, but from the begining usually more or less a term of reproach. General sense of "one country's rule over another," first recorded 1878. Picked up disparagingly in Communist jargon by 1918.
It is the old story of 1798, when French republicanism sick of its own folly and misdeeds, became metamorphosed into imperialism, and consoled itself for its incapacity to found domestic freedom by putting an iron yoke upon Europe, and covering it with blood and battle-fields. [Francis Lloyd, "St. James's Magazine," January 1842]
imperialist (n.): c. 1600, "an adherent of an emperor," such as the emperor of Germany, France, China, etc., probably modeled on French impérialiste (early 16c.); from imperial + -ist. The shift in meaning to "advocate of imperialism" (1893) came via the British Empire, which involved a worldwide colonial system. See imperialism. As a term of abuse in communist circles, attested by 1918. As an adjective by 1816.
imperialistic (adj.): 1872, from imperial + -istic. Also see imperialist.
imperil (v.): 1590s, from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + peril. Related: Imperiled; imperiling.
imperious (adj.): 1540s, from Latin imperiosus "commanding, mighty, powerful," from imperium "empire, command" (see empire). Related: Imperiously.
imperishable (adj.): 1640s, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + perishable.
imperium (n.): 1650s, from Latin imperium "command, supreme authority, power" (see empire).
impermanence (n.): 1796, from impermanent + -ence. Impermanency is from 1640s.
impermanent (adj.): 1650s, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + permanent.
impermeable (adj.): 1690s, from French imperméable, from Late Latin impermeabilis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + permeabilis (see permeable).
impermissible (adj.): 1814, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + permissible.
imperscriptable (adj.): "unrecorded, without written authority," 1832, used only with right. From assimilated form of Latin in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + perscribere "to write down."