Meanings
present singular third person imperates · participle present imperating · participle past imperated · past imperated
- rarelifestyleTo command.
There be duties […] imperated or governed by religion.
1633, William Ames, “I. 54”, in Fresh Suit against Human Ceremonies - rarelifestyleTo rule, govern.
A Law differs from Counsel, as my Understanding differs from my Will: my Will is that which imperates all my actions my Understanding informs my Will, whether the doing or not not doing such an act be good or bad, just or unjust, reasonable or unreasonable.
1660, Roger Coke, “Elements Power & Subjection, II. Of Laws”, in Justice Vindicated
- not comparablerareobsolete outside of religionhuman sciencesDone by express direction; not involuntary; commanded.
imperate acts; imperate actions
2 more examples
And because I find that the remoteſt Muſcle in my Body moves at the command of my Will, and ſince I ſee the energy of my Soul in every particle of my Body, though not uſing intellectual actions in every part, yet uſing ſome that are imperate, as Local Motion; […]
a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “De Homine; The Introduction, declaring the reaſon of the choice of this Subject, and the Method of the intended Diſcourſe”, in The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC, section I, page 22The will by an imperate act commands the assent of the intellect to the truth revealed by God.
1880, The Catholic World, number 442/1 - not comparableobsoleterarelifestyleImperated.
2 more examples
Than Venus said in mind half stomachat, Of the assyis nane salbe alterat. As for the Roll, gif thay pleis, reid agane. Than said Vesta to Venus, weill I wait Ȝe aucht not be baith Iudge and Aduocat. For and sa be, it is wrang ȝe do plane, Than said Venus with mind almaist Insane. It salbe sa as I haif Imperat. Than said Vesta, Iustice can not remane.
c. 1550, Iohne Rolland, “The Thrid Buik”, in Walter Gregor, editor, Ane Treatise Callit The Court of Venus: Deuidit Into Four Buikis, Edinburgh; London: […] for the [Scottish Text] Society by William Blackwood and Sons, published 1884, page 89, lines 253–2613. Again, there be very many Operations, that although they flow from this active Principle, yet they are not acts that are imperate by the Will, but they are in a manner natural and unvoluntary; and therefore I call them ſometimes Involuntary, ſometimes Natural, and they are very many and various; ſuch are many of the acts of Senſe, eſspecially the external.
a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “De Homine; The Introduction, declaring the reaſon of the choice of this Subject, and the Method of the intended Diſcourſe”, in The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC, section I, page 30
Origin
- Latinimperātus
- Englishimperate
First attested in 1543, as an adjective, as a verb in 1598; borrowed from Latin imperātus, perfect passive participle of imperō (“to command”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). Doublet of mpret.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with imperate
Anagrams
Cite this entry
imperate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperate
“imperate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperate. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “imperate,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperate.
Source: imperate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.