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im·press¹

(ĭm-prĕs)

tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es

1. To affect strongly, often favorably: wrote down whatever impressed me during the journey; was impressed by the child's sincerity.

2. To produce or attempt to produce a vivid impression or image of: a scene that impressed itself on her memory; parents that impress the value of money on their children.

3. To mark or stamp with pressure: impressed the wax with a design.

4. To apply with pressure; press: impressed the stamp onto the wax.

n. (ĭmprĕs′)

1. The act of impressing: a design left by impress of a seal.

2. A mark or pattern of influence produced by someone or something; an impression: a politician who left her impress on foreign policy.

3. A stamp or seal meant to be impressed.

[Middle English impressen, to imprint, from Old French empresser, from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere : in-, in; see IN-² + premere, to press; see per-⁴ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

im·press²

(ĭm-prĕs)

tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es

1. To compel (a person) to serve in the military, particularly in the naval forces, especially by seizure.

2. To seize (property) by force or authority, especially for military purposes; confiscate.

3. Law To impose a constructive trust or a lien upon property, as a matter of equity, to protect a person without legal title but with a legally recognized interest.

n. (ĭmprĕs)

Impressment.

[IN-² + PRESS² (influenced by obsolete IMPREST, advance on a soldier's pay).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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