Impasse
/ˈɪm.pæs/noun
A situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement.
Did you know?It entered English through French, where it originally meant a road or situation that could not be passed through, turning a physical blockage into a powerful metaphor for stalemate.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
passus
“a step; a pace”
Late Latin
Latin
passare
“to step, go, or pass”
Old French
Old French
impasse
“a road that cannot be passed; a dead end”
18th Century
French/English
impasse
“a blocked way; a stalemate or deadlock”
Modern English
English
impasse
“a situation in which no further progress is possible”