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adj. 1. Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless. 2. Unable to endure irritation or opposition; intolerant: impatient of criticism. 3. Expressing or produced by impatience: an impatient scowl. 4. Restively eager or desirous; anxious: impatient to begin. [Middle English impacient, from Old French impatient, from Latin impatiēns, impatient- : in-, not; see IN-1 + patiēns, present participle of patī, to suffer, endure; see PATIENT.] im·patient·ly adv. |
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