To hinder; to impede. This sense is found in our early writers. These ungracious practices of his sons did impeach his journey to the Holy Land. A defluxion on my throat impeached my utterance.

To accuse; to charge with a crime or misdemeanor; but appropriately, to exhibit charges of maladministration against a public officer before a competent tribunal, that is, to send or put on, to load. The word is now restricted to accusations made by authority; as, to impeach a judge.

To accuse; to censure; to call in question; as, to impeach one’s motives or conduct.

To call to account; to charge as answerable.

Hinderance.