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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Impress

Im-prĕss', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. IMPRESSED (-prĕst'); p. pr. & vb. n. IMPRESSING.] [Lat. imprimere, impressum; prefix im, for in, and premere, to press; It. imprimere, Sp. imprimĭr, Fr. imprimer.]

  1. To press, or stamp, in or upon; to mark by pressure, or as if by pressure; to make a mark or figure upon. “This heart, like an agate, with your print impressed.” Shak.
  2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, &c.; to stamp.
  3. To fix deeply; to inculcate; to imprint.

Impress motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them. Watts. 4. To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors. The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sick and wounded prisoners. Evelyn.

Im'press, n.

noun

n. 1. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of any thing formed by pressure, or as if by pressure; stamp; mold; communicated character. “The impresses of the insides of these shells.” Woodward.

They were the lieutenants of God, sent with the impresses of his majesty. Bp. Taylor.

Sense 2. Mark of distinction; seal; stamp. South.

Sense 3. Device; motto, as upon a shield or seal. See IMPRESA.

To describe emblazoned shields, Impresses quaint. Milton.

Sense 4. Impression or influence wrought on the mind.

This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in ice. Shak.

Sense 5. The act of impressing or taking by force for the public service; compulsion to serve. “Why such impress of shipwrights?” Shak.

Impress money, a sum of money paid to men who have been impressed, immediately upon their entering service.