impeach

• to make a formal charge, especially against an elected official for improper conduct in office
• to try to discredit

From Late Latin  impedicare to ensnare or entangle or put in fetters

< Latin pedica fetters or shackles < ped- foot

Other words from pes, pedis foot include expedite. impediment, peon, sesquipedalian, pioneer, pedestrian, millipede, centipede, peduncle (a stalk or stalklike base).

The English word foot is cognate (that is from the same Indo-European root).

Greek pous, podos, base pod- is also cognate to the Latin and English words. From pod- come such words as, podiatrist, monopod, tripod and trivet, pew, octopus, platypus, podagra (gout).

Of greater interest considering our word at the top is the verbal root ped- meaning to walk and to stumble. From this come Latin peior (worse) > English pejorative; Latin pessimus (worst) and Latin peccare to stumble or sin > English peccable, impeccable, peccadillo.

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