Dictionary

impatient en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ɪmˈpeɪʃənt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Old French impacient (modern French impatient), from Latin impatiēns. By surface analysis, im- + patient.

Meanings

1. Restless, short of temper, and intolerant of delays.
   • The impatient man will not give himself time to be informed of the matter that lies before him. 1712 August 18 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, August 8, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 469; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
   • She dances when she becomes impatient.
2. Anxious and eager, especially to begin or have something.
   • For, if (ſaid he) you throw among five Yahoos as much Food as would be ſufficient for fifty, they will, inſtead of eating peaceably, fall together by the ears, each ſingle one impatient to have all to itſelf; […] 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author’s Great Love of His Native Country. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), page 258:
3. (obsolete) Not to be borne; unendurable.
   • Dismayed with so defperate deadly wound, And eke impatient of unwonted payne, He lowdly bray'd with beastly yelling sownd 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
4. Prompted by, or exhibiting, impatience.
   • What, will you tear / Impatient answers from my gentle tongue? c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], line 287:
   • impatient speeches or replies

Forms

Deriveds

impassive · impatientness · unimpatient · impatiently · impatience

Translations (77)

cs netrpělivý (restless and intolerant of delays) · nl ongeduldig (anxious and eager) · mi hīkaikai (restless and intolerant of delays) · nrf împâtient (anxious and eager) · fi kärsimätön (anxious and eager) · pl niecierpliwy (restless and intolerant of delays) · uk нетерпля́чий (restless and intolerant of delays) · la impatiens (restless and intolerant of delays) · th ใจร้อน (restless and intolerant of delays) · sh нестр̀пљив (anxious and eager) · hi आतुर (restless and intolerant of delays) · pt impaciente (restless and intolerant of delays) · mi takahē (anxious and eager) · sv otålig (restless and intolerant of delays) · el ανυπόμονος (restless and intolerant of delays) · cmn 不耐煩 /不耐烦 (restless and intolerant of delays) · eo senpacienca (restless and intolerant of delays) · it impaziente (restless and intolerant of delays) · mi pōāritarita (restless and intolerant of delays) · hy անհամբեր (anxious and eager) · izh terppimätöin (restless and intolerant of delays) · el ανυπόμονος (anxious and eager) · tr aceleci (anxious and eager) · mi pōtatutatu (anxious and eager) · nb utålmodig (restless and intolerant of delays) · fi kärsimätön (restless and intolerant of delays) · mi takahē (restless and intolerant of delays) · fr impatient (restless and intolerant of delays) · hu türelmetlen (restless and intolerant of delays) · ca impacient (restless and intolerant of delays) · nn utolmodig (restless and intolerant of delays) · sv utan tålamod (restless and intolerant of delays) · be нецярплі́вы (restless and intolerant of delays) · pl niecierpliwy (anxious and eager) · tr aceleci (restless and intolerant of delays) · mi takawawe (anxious and eager) · ru нетерпели́вый (restless and intolerant of delays) · ang unġeþyldiġ (anxious and eager) · cmn 浮躁 (restless and intolerant of delays) · nv doo bibaʼ da (restless and intolerant of delays) · ga mífhoighneach (restless and intolerant of delays) · ca impacient (anxious and eager) · pt ansioso (anxious and eager) · tr sabırsız (restless and intolerant of delays) · bg неспокоен (anxious and eager) · ang unġeþyldiġ (restless and intolerant of delays) · ru нетерпели́вый (anxious and eager) · yue 心急 (anxious and eager) · fr impatient (anxious and eager) · mi kiriweti (restless and intolerant of delays) · nrf împâtient (restless and intolerant of delays) · es impaciente (anxious and eager) · tr sabırsız (anxious and eager) · sv ivrig (anxious and eager) · tr tez canlı (anxious and eager) · th ร้อนรน (anxious and eager) · hi चंचल (anxious and eager) · sh nestr̀pljiv (anxious and eager) · mi pukā (anxious and eager) · gd mì-fhoighidneach (restless and intolerant of delays) · bg нетърпелив (restless and intolerant of delays) · es impaciente (restless and intolerant of delays) · lb ongedëlleg (restless and intolerant of delays) · hy անհամբեր (restless and intolerant of delays) · pdt onjeduldich (restless and intolerant of delays) · nl ongeduldig (restless and intolerant of delays) · bg в очакване (anxious and eager) · tr tez canlı (restless and intolerant of delays) · gl impaciente (restless and intolerant of delays) · is óþolinmóður (restless and intolerant of delays) · de ungeduldig (restless and intolerant of delays) · sh нестр̀пљив (restless and intolerant of delays) · da utålmodig (restless and intolerant of delays) · eo malpacienca (restless and intolerant of delays) · cmn 焦急 (anxious and eager) · cmn 急躁 (anxious and eager) · sh nestr̀pljiv (restless and intolerant of delays)