Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we marched on
without impediment. --Shak.
{Impediment in speech}, a defect which prevents distinct
utterance.
Syn: Hindrance; obstruction; obstacle; difficulty;
incumbrance.
Usage: {Impediment}, {Obstacle}, {Difficulty}, {Hindrance}.
An impediment literally strikes against our feet,
checking our progress, and we remove it. An obstacle
rises before us in our path, and we surmount or remove
it. A difficulty sets before us something hard to be
done, and we encounter it and overcome it. A hindrance
holds us back for a time, but we break away from it.
The eloquence of Demosthenes was to Philip of
Macedon, a difficulty to be met with his best
recources, ant obstacle to his own ambition, and
an impedimen in his political career. --C. J.
Smith.