The word "impedes" is spelled with the letters i-m-p-e-d-e-s, and it is pronounced /ɪmˈpiːdz/. The IPA transcription shows that the first sound of the word is the short "i" sound, followed by the "m" sound. The third sound is the "p" sound, and it is followed by the long "e" sound. The "d" sound comes next, followed by the "s" sound at the end. "Impedes" is a verb that means to hinder or obstruct progress or movement, and it is commonly used in academic writing and business contexts.
The term "impedes" refers to the act of obstructing, hindering, or slowing down progress or movement. It denotes the interruption or prevention of the smooth advancement of an activity, process, or individual.
In a literal sense, "impedes" pertains to physical barriers or obstacles that hinder the flow or motion of objects or people. For instance, a massive fallen tree on a road might impede the movement of vehicles, causing delays or preventing passage altogether. Similarly, a tightly crowded pathway may impede the progress of pedestrians, making it difficult for them to move freely.
However, the term can also be applied metaphorically in various contexts. In cognitive or mental processes, it alludes to anything that disturbs the efficiency or effectiveness of one's thinking, learning, or problem-solving abilities. For example, distractions such as loud noises or interruptions may impede an individual's concentration, making it challenging for them to focus on a specific task.
In a broader societal or organizational arena, "impedes" refers to factors or circumstances that slow down progress or hinder the achievement of goals. This could include bureaucratic red tape, inefficient processes, or lack of resources. In this context, anything that obstructs or delays the accomplishment of desired outcomes can be categorized as an impediment.
Overall, "impedes" encompasses both physical and metaphorical obstacles that hinder or disrupt the smooth advancement of activities, processes, or individuals. It highlights the actions or factors that prevent the achievement of desired results or limit the pace of progress.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "impede" originated from the Latin word "impedire", which consists of two parts: "im-" (a prefix meaning "not") and "pedis" (the genitive form of "pes", meaning "foot"). Thus, the literal meaning of "impedire" is "to put one's foot against" or "to trip up". Eventually, "impedire" evolved into "impede" in English, which means to hinder, obstruct, or slow down progress.