I. ə̇mˈpres verb
Etymology: Middle English impressen, from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere, from in- in- (II) + -primere (from premere to press) — more at press
transitive verb
1.
a. : to apply with pressure so as to press or imprint
impress a signet ring on wax
the fingerprint file … in which all 10 fingers are impressed on the card — FBI Bulletin
b. : to produce (as a mark or image) by pressure
a perfect spiral impressed on such a cylinder — S.F.Mason
: imprint
impress one's name on a metal strip by machine
impress an odd design on the wood
c. : to press, stamp, or print in or upon
impressed the wax with his seal
: mark by or as if by pressure
impress his children with the right attitudes
2.
a. : to produce or imprint an especially vivid impression of (as on the mind or memory)
impress an idea on the mind
the general custom for boys to be whipped on certain days to impress things on their memories — T.B.Costain
beliefs which have been impressed upon us in our childhood — Frank Thilby
: cause to have a strong effect (as of compulsion)
impressing his will upon others by sheer force of character — V.L.Parrington
b. : to produce an impression on : affect especially forcibly or deeply
impress a friend with the sincerity of one's intentions
impress one favorably
: arouse strong feeling (as concern, admiration, dislike) in
the altered manner of his son impressed him strangely — George Meredith
the bigness of it awed them, the resources impressed them — Joseph Baily
c. : to mark with an imposed quality or characteristic
impress the poem with the cynicism of his outlook
3.
a. obsolete : print
impress the Bible
b. : to print (a stamp) directly on (a postcard, envelope)
impressed with a 2 cent stamp
4.
a. : exert
impress a force upon a sail
b. : to transfer or transmit (as a movement) by communication
impress a motion upon a ball
c. : to apply (an electromotive force or voltage) to a circuit from an outside source (as a generator)
intransitive verb
: to produce an impression : arouse the strong interest or admiration of another
did not wish to make friends at parties but only to impress with his sense of personal destiny
a small child acting up before company in an effort to impress
Synonyms: see affect
II. ˈimˌp- sometimes ə̇mˈp- noun
1. : the act of impressing or stamping
sealing by the old-time process of impress — L.F.Middlebrook
2.
a. : a mark made by pressure that produces indentation or embossment : imprint
noting the impress of wheels in lava — Richard Llewellyn
a matrix in fairly durable metal to receive the impress of the punch — G.C.Sellery
b. : an image or figure of something formed by or as if by pressure ; especially : seal
the most beautiful seal cuttings are shown on the impresses of the old Salem documents — L.F.Middlebrook
c. : a product of pressure or influence
3. : a characteristic mark of distinction : stamp
the picture bore the impress of the artist
: distinctive quality
his soft mind had … taken an impress from the society which surrounded him — T.B.Macaulay
the impress of a fresh and vital intelligence is stamped unmistakably upon all that is best in his work — Lytton Strachey
4. archaic : impresa
5. : impression
his work has made a decided impress upon our time — W.R.Benét
: effect
words are but symbols and, like all symbols, have a varying impress — Philip Wittenberg
made his strongest impress upon the country by his … two speeches — G.H.Haynes
left an enduring impress on my life, although our relations were always impersonal — A.J.Liebling
III. ə̇mˈp- transitive verb
Etymology: in- (II) + press (take by force)
1. : to levy or take by force for public service ; especially : to take or force by impressment (as into naval service)
in searching for British sailors upon our ships, she impressed our own — Owen Wister
2.
a. : to enlist or procure the services or aid of by forcible argument or persuasion
all able-bodied survivors were impressed for the task of finding and caring for the injured — American Guide Series: Texas
b. : to force or forcibly persuade
impressed him into a white coat for the Christmas festivities — Nancy Hale
IV. ˈimˌp-, ə̇mˈp- noun
: impressment
V. noun
Etymology: alteration of imprest (II)
obsolete : pay in advance
VI. ə̇mˈpres transitive verb
Etymology: alteration of imprest (I)
archaic : to make an advance payment of (money)
VII. ˈimˌp-, ə̇mˈp- noun
Etymology: alteration of imprese
: emblem , device
their shields broken, their impresses defaced — Edmund Burke