Impedivo

Impedivo is the first-person singular imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb impedire, meaning I hindered or I was hindering. The imperfect is used to describe actions in the past that were ongoing, habitual, or not completed at a reference point in time. Impedire is a transitive verb and typically takes a direct object or an infinitival clause: impedire qualcosa or impedire a qualcuno di fare qualcosa.

Etymology and related forms: The verb impedire derives from Latin impedire, related to impedimentum, a hindrance or obstacle. In Italian, impedire shares its root with related terms such as impedito (past participle: hindered, blocked) and impedimento (hindrance).

Conjugation and variants: The imperfect forms of impedire follow the regular -ire verb pattern. For the first-person singular, impedivo; second-person singular is impedivi; third-person singular is impediva; first-person plural impedivamo; second-person plural impedivate; third-person plural impedivano. Thus impedivo specifically corresponds to “I was hindering” or “I hindered.”

Usage notes: Impedivo conveys a sense of ongoing or repeated hindrance in the past and is more formal or literary than everyday speech. It can describe physical obstruction, procedural prevention, or deliberate limitation of actions. It is often contrasted with ostacolare (to obstruct) or prevenire (to prevent) in nuance.

Examples:

- Io impedivo ai ladri di entrare nella casa. (I was hindering the thieves from entering the house.)

- In quel periodo impedivo spesso ai colleghi di interrompere durante le presentazioni. (During that period I was often preventing colleagues from interrupting during presentations.)

See also: impedire, impedito, impedimento, ostacolare, prevenire.