impervious
/ɪmˈpɜːrviəs/
adjective
Origin
Latin
impervius — impassable, impenetrable
Overview
Meaning Now
- Not allowing fluid to pass through; impenetrable.
- Unable to be affected by, influenced, or harmed by something.
Literal older meaning
not passing through
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
impervious
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term emerged during a period of heavy Latinate borrowing in English, often used in scientific or formal contexts to describe physical materials before being applied metaphorically to human temperament or psychological states.
Evolution
- Latin
pervius
“having a way through”
Derived from 'per' (through) and 'via' (way)
- Latin
impervius
“not passable”
Addition of the negative prefix 'in-'
- English, 17th century
impervious
“impenetrable”
Direct borrowing from Latin
Connections
Word parts
in-
prefix
not
per-
prefix
through
-vi-
root
way/path
-ous
suffix
characterized by
Related across languages
French
imperméable
waterproof
Spanish
impervio
impassable
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Related to impervious
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.