The Harry Potter Compendium
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"Swift use of this jinx can freeze an attacker for a few moments, or stop a magical beast in its tracks. The jinx is a vital part of any duellist’s arsenal."
Miranda Goshawk introduces this spell in Book of Spells.[src]

The Impediment Jinx[3] (Impedimenta[1]), also known as the Impediment Hex[4] is a jinx that slows the target[1]. It is only temporary[1], lasting about ten seconds[5]. Although it is capable of freezing a wasp in mid-air[1], it is ineffective against lethifolds[4].

The curse will usually simply immobilise a target[1], it can also be used to throw a target backward[6] or simply decrease the velocity of the victim's movement[3], and can also levitate them[7].

Practitioners[]

File:Impedimenta.JPG

James Potter casting this spell on Severus Snape in his teenage years

File:Harry-Potter-and-the-Deathly-Hallows-Part-2-e1312464436765.jpg

Neville casting the Impediment Jinx against Scabior

Etymology[]

The incantation "Impedimenta" is derived from the Latin word "impedimentum", meaning "a hindrance".

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]


Defense Against the Dark Arts (D.A.D.A.)
TDF-AGTS-P
Professors: Galatea Merrythought · Quirinus Quirrell · Gilderoy Lockhart · Remus Lupin · Barty Crouch Jr. (as Alastor Moody) · Dolores Umbridge · Severus Snape ·
Amycus Carrow (as Dark Arts teacher)
Textbooks: The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection · Break with a Banshee · Gadding with Ghouls · Holidays with Hags · Travels with Trolls ·
Voyages with Vampires · Wanderings with Werewolves · Year with the Yeti · The Essential Defense Against the Dark Arts · Defensive Magical Theory · Dark Arts Defense: Basics for Beginners · Confronting the Faceless
D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts: Classroom 3C · Temporary Classroom · Tower · Professor's Office · Storeroom · Staircase · Lesson Cup · Race Cup · Dumbledore's Army
Spells covered under the subject: Curse of the Bogies · Knockback Jinx · Verdimillious (uno, duo & tria) · Wand-Lighting Charm · Glacius · Patronus Charm · Killing Curse · Cruciatus Curse · Imperius Curse ·
Impediment Jinx · Reductor Curse · Stunning Spell · Shield Charm · Nonverbal spells · Hex-deflection · Hex-Breaker · Hex Zapper
Creatures covered under the subject: Vampire bats · Iguanas · Cornish Pixies · Werewolves · Vampires · Hinkypunks · Boggarts · Red Caps · Kappas · Grindylows · Inferius
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