English Dictionary

imp

/ɪmp/

noun

(chiefly fiction and mythology) A small, mischievous sprite or a malevolent supernatural creature, somewhat comparable to a demon but smaller and less powerful, formerly regarded as the child of the devil or a demon (see sense 3.2).

The imp cackled mischievously as he disappeared into thin air.

意味（1）

(chiefly fiction and mythology) A small, mischievous sprite or a malevolent supernatural creature, somewhat comparable to a demon but smaller and less powerful, formerly regarded as the child of the devil or a demon (see sense 3.2).

Yes, there are a great, great many coming after us; at least a score, said the lad.—Well, that's the troll, said the horse; he is coming after us with his imps.

意味（2）

(often humorous) A mischievous child.

Concourſe, and noiſe, and toil, he ever fled; / Nor cared to mingle in the clamorous fray / Of ſquabbling imps; but to the foreſt ſped, / Or roam'd at large the lonely mountain's head; […]

意味（3）

A baby Tasmanian devil.

When they are upset, their ears blush a furious crimson, resembling red horns and adding to their diabolical image. (Baby devils, packed four to a pouch, are known as imps.)]

意味（4）

A young shoot of a plant, a tree, etc.; a sapling; also, a part of a plant used for grafting; a graft.

Þai sett hem doun al þre / Vnder a fair ympetre, / And wel sone þis fair quene / Fel on slepe opon þe grene.

Þai sett hem doun al þre / Vnder a fair ympetre, / And wel sone þis fair quene / Fel on slepe opon þe grene. They set them down all three / Under a fair imp-tree, / And well soon this fair queen / Fell asleep upon the green.]

意味（5）

An offspring or scion, especially of a noble family; (generally) a (usually male) child; a (young) man.

And thou moſt dreaded impe of higheſt Ioue, / Faire Venus ſonne, that with thy cruell dart / At that good knight ſo cunningly didſt rove, / That glorious fire it kindled in his heart, / Lay now thy deadly Heben bow apart, / And with thy mother milde come to my ayde: […]

意味（6）

(Britain, dialectal) Something added to or united with another to lengthen it out or repair it (such as an eke or small stand on which a beehive is placed, or a length of twisted hair in a fishing line).