impress

impress¹

—impresser, n.

v. /im pres"/; n. /im"pres/, v., impressed or (Archaic) imprest; impressing; n.

v.t.

1. to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion: He impressed us as a sincere young man.

2. to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts: to impress the importance of honesty on a child.

3. to urge, as something to be remembered or done: She impressed the need for action on them.

4. to press (a thing) into or on something.

5. to impose a particular characteristic or quality upon (something): The painter impressed his love of garish colors upon the landscape.

6. to produce (a mark, figure, etc.) by pressure; stamp; imprint: The king impressed his seal on the melted wax.

7. to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.

8. to subject to or mark by pressure with something.

9. to furnish with a mark, figure, etc., by or as if by stamping.

10. Elect. to produce (a voltage) or cause (a voltage) to appear or be produced on a conductor, circuit, etc.

v.i.

11. to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself: a child's behavior intended to impress.

n.

12. the act of impressing.

13. a mark made by or as by pressure; stamp; imprint.

14. a distinctive character or effect imparted: writings that bear the impress of a strong personality.

[1325-75; ME < L impressus ptp. of imprimere to press into or upon, impress, equiv. to im- IM-¹ + pressus ptp. of premere (comb. form -primere) to PRESS¹; see PRINT]

Syn. 1. move, sway, disturb; persuade.

impress²

v. /im pres"/; n. /im"pres/, v., impressed or (Archaic) imprest; impressing; n.

v.t.

1. to press or force into public service, as sailors.

2. to seize or take for public use.

3. to take or persuade into service by forceful arguments: The neighbors were impressed into helping the family move.

n.

4. impressment.

[1590-1600; IM-¹ + PRESS²]

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