impatience

Everyday

1. A feeling of being annoyed because you have to wait or because something is slow. tree →
2. A strong wish for something to happen soon; eagerness. tree →
3. Being easily irritated by people or mistakes. tree →

In the lessons

A common word in stories and school: «waited with impatience», «a sigh of impatience», «impatience to begin». In stories Toad is full of impatience for new adventures, and the Queen of Hearts shows her impatience by shouting «Off with her head!»

Examples

• She tapped her foot with impatience. tree →
• The children's impatience grew as the bus was late. tree →
• Toad's impatience to drive again could not be stopped. tree →
• The Queen of Hearts had no patience at all, only impatience. tree →
• In his impatience, he opened the oven too soon and the cake sank. tree →
• The teacher showed no impatience with our questions. tree →
• I am burning with impatience to test its charms." tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: impatient; adverb: impatiently. Opposite: patience. Prefix «im-» means «not», as in impossible, impolite.

In Jewish tradition

In Exodus the word means a crushed, worn-out spirit from hard slavery, not just being annoyed.

Interpretation. Tradition reads it as the exhaustion of slaves who were too broken to listen even to good news of freedom.

Examples

• And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit, and for cruel bondage. (Torah EXO.6.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: impatient; adverb: impatiently. Opposite: patience. Prefix «im-» means «not», as in impossible, impolite.