Impress \Im*press"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impressed; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Impressing.] [L. impressus, p. p. of imprimere to
   impress; pref. im- in, on + premere to press. See Press to
   squeeze, and cf. Imprint.]
   1. To press, stamp, or print something in or upon; to mark by
      pressure, or as by pressure; to imprint (that which bears
      the impression).
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            His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to
      imprint (a mark or figure upon something).
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   3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to
      the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate.
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            Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own
            hearts till we feel the force of them. --I. Watts.
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   4. [See Imprest, Impress, n., 5.] To take by force for
      public service; as, to impress sailors or money.
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            The second five thousand pounds impressed for the
            service of the sick and wounded prisoners. --Evelyn.
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Impresa \Im*pre"sa\ ([-e]m*pr[=a]"s[.a]), n. [It. See Emprise,
   and cf. Impress, n., 4.] (Her.)
   A device on a shield or seal, or used as a bookplate or the
   like. [Written also imprese and impress.]
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         My impresa to your lordship; a swain
         Flying to a laurel for shelter.          --J. Webster.
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Impress \Im*press"\, v. i.
   To be impressed; to rest. [Obs.]
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         Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress. --Chaucer.
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Impress \Im"press\, n.; pl. Impresses.
   1. The act of impressing or making.
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   2. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the
      image or figure of anything, formed by pressure or as if
      by pressure; result produced by pressure or influence.
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            The impresses of the insides of these shells.
                                                  --Woodward.
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            This weak impress of love is as a figure
            Trenched in ice.                      --Shak.
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   3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp. --South.
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   4. A device. See Impresa. --Cussans.
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            To describe . . . emblazoned shields,
            Impresses quaint.                     --Milton.
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   5. [See Imprest, Press to force into service.] The act of
      impressing, or taking by force for the public service;
      compulsion to serve; also, that which is impressed.
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            Why such impress of shipwrights?      --Shak.
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   Impress gang, a party of men, with an officer, employed to
      impress seamen for ships of war; a press gang.

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