# Looking for a more practical definition of "infringe" to differentiate it from "impinge"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 12, 2017, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626 "2017-10-12T08:31:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626/1 "2017-10-12T08:31:47Z")

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Hi,

The word infringe seems to be defined only in terms of rights and liberties. But I found it use differently here in terms of influence and interest:

p. 317 " 1913: In Search of the World Before the Great War" by Charles Emmerson.  
"Russia’s southern borders, galloping outward over the Caucasus, decade by decade, encompassing an ever-greater share of the Caspian shoreline, and swallowing up and then exploiting the oilfields of Baku, inevitably infringed on areas of ancient Persian influence and interest. "

I would have used the word ‘impinge’ in the above case. Is there an overlap in meaning between infringe and impinge? Are the words now used interchangeably? Would the use of ‘impinge’ be wrong in the above example?  
I look forward to your feedback.

infringe  
ɪnˈfrɪn(d)ʒ/Submit  
verb  
1.  
actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.).  
“making an unauthorized copy would infringe copyright”  
同義詞： contravene, violate, transgress, break, breach, commit a breach of, disobey, defy, flout, fly in the face of, ride roughshod over, kick against; 更多  
2.  
act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on.  
“such widespread surveillance could infringe personal liberties”  
同義詞： undermine, erode, diminish, weaken, impair, damage, compromise; 更多

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626/2 "2017-10-12T08:39:25Z")

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I would say that Emmerson used the wrong word and his editor missed it. Your definitions are the correct and normal usage.

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**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626/3 "2017-10-12T10:08:30Z")

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It’s an older sense of the word. The basic meaning comes from Latin _infringere_, to break into.

Oxford English Dictionary:

**infringe**

1. intr. To break in or encroach _on_ or _upon_.

1772–84 Cook Voy. (1790) I. 147 _They did not infringe upon this boundary for some time._  
Your second definition has ‘encroach on’, and that’s the meaning of the passage you quote.

“_Infringed_ on areas of ancient Persian influence and interest” means encroached on, or took over, or broke into, the areas of Persian influence.

“_Impinged_ on areas of ancient Persian influence and interest” would mean came into contact with, pushed against, or affected, the areas of Persian influence.

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626/4 "2017-10-12T15:24:47Z")

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At least in modern English (i.e. the way I talk), you are absolutely right.

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-more-practical-definition-of-infringe-to-differentiate-it-from-impinge/798626/5 "2017-10-13T05:22:47Z")

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> [@GreenWyvern](#):
>
> It’s an older sense of the word. The basic meaning comes from Latin _infringere_, to break into.
> 
> Oxford English Dictionary:
> 
> **infringe**
> 
> 1. intr. To break in or encroach _on_ or _upon_.
> 
> 1772–84 Cook Voy. (1790) I. 147 _They did not infringe upon this boundary for some time._  
> Your second definition has ‘encroach on’, and that’s the meaning of the passage you quote.
> 
> “_Infringed_ on areas of ancient Persian influence and interest” means encroached on, or took over, or broke into, the areas of Persian influence.
> 
> “_Impinged_ on areas of ancient Persian influence and interest” would mean came into contact with, pushed against, or affected, the areas of Persian influence.

Thanks GreenWyvers. Given that ‘infringe’ is not used in the more modern sense, it would probably be advisable not to use word in the older sense in regular correspondence, wouldn’t you agree?