impugn

English

WOTD – 27 April 2006

Borrowed from Middle French impugner, from Latin impugnō, from im- + pugnō (“fight”), from pugnus (“fist”), as in English pugilism (“fighting with fists, boxing”); from Proto-Indo-European roots.

impugn (third-person singular simple present impugns, present participle impugning, simple past and past participle impugned)

(transitive, obsolete) To assault, attack.
(transitive) To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of.

					1859 1864 1872 1889	1922
ME «	15th c.	16th c.	17th c.	18th c.	19th c.	20th c.	21st c.

1859 — John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Let the opinions impugned be the belief in a God and in a future state, or any of the commonly received doctrines of morality.
1864 — Abraham Lincoln, Fourth State of the Union Address
There have been much impugning of motives and much heated controversy as to the proper means and best mode of advancing the Union cause.
1872 — Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative Principles
At home, at a period of immense prosperity, with a people contented and naturally loyal, we find to our surprise the most extravagant doctrines professed and the fundamental principles of our most valuable institutions impugned, and that too by persons of some authority.
1889 — Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, ch. xxv
It is a hardy question, fair sir and Boss, since it doth go far to impugn the wisdom of even our holy Mother Church herself.
1922 — Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Chessmen of Mars, ch. 21
He is not dead. When he revives he will return to his quarters with a fine tale of his bravery and there will be none to impugn his boasts.

To assault, attack

To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action

question the validity of

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