Twelve years ago, I emailed a friend, congratulating him on his impending marriage. A few days later, we spoke, and he questioned my use of the word impending. He was under the impression that impending had a negative connotation — yes, he is a copyeditor. I checked Webster's and found that one of the meanings listed (1b) was free of any unpleasant connotations: 1 a : to hover threateningly : MENACE b : to be about to occur the impending Senate hearings 2 archaic : to hang su