imprest

UK: /ɪmˈprɛst/ US: (n. im′prest)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•prest¹  (im′prest), n. 

1. an advance of money;
   loan.

• Latin im- im-¹ + praestāre to be responsible for (prae- pre- + stāre to stand, influenced in sense by praes, stem praed- guarantor, one acting as surety
• Italian imprestare
• probably noun, nominal use of obsolete verb, verbal imprest to advance money to 1560–70

im•prest²  (im prest′), v. [Archaic.]

1. pt. and pp. of impress. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

imprest / ɪmˈprɛst/ noun

1. a fund of cash from which a department or other unit pays incidental expenses, topped up periodically from central funds
2. an advance from government funds for the performance of some public business or service

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Italian imprestare to lend, from Latin in- towards + praestāre to pay, from praestō at hand; see presto

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•press¹ /v. ɪmˈprɛs; n. ˈɪmprɛs/   v. 

1. [ ~ + obj] to affect (someone) deeply;
   influence:
   impressed us as sincere.
2. [ ~ + obj] to create a favorable impression on (someone):
   Her excellent work impressed me.
3. to establish firmly in the mind:
   [~ + on + object + object] We impressed on her the necessity of being honest.
4. [ ~ + obj] to produce (a mark) by pressure as from a stamp;
   imprint:
   to impress a picture of a duck by using a stamp pad and some ink.
5. [ ~ + obj] to furnish with a mark by or as if by stamping:
   to impress the page with his seal.

n. [countable]

6. a mark made by or as if by pressure.

See -press-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•press¹  (v. im pres′;n. im′pres), v., -pressed or (Archaic) -prest;
-pres•sing;
 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. Electricity 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.

• Latin impressus past participle of imprimere to press into or upon, impress, equivalent. to im- im-¹ + pressus past participle of premere (combining form -primere) to press¹; see print
• Middle English 1325–75

im•press′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. move, sway, disturb; persuade.

im•press²  (v. im pres′;n. im′pres), v., -pressed or (Archaic) -prest;
-pres•sing;
 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.

• im-¹ + press² 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impress verb / ɪmˈprɛs/(transitive)

1. to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect on: I am impressed by your work
2. to produce (an imprint, etc) by pressure in or on (something): to impress a seal in wax, to impress wax with a seal
3. (often followed by on) to stress (something to a person); urge; emphasize
4. to exert pressure on; press

noun / ˈɪmprɛs/

1. the act or an instance of impressing
2. a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin imprimere to press into, imprint, from premere to press¹

imˈpresser noun

imˈpressible adjective

impress verb / ɪmˈprɛs/

1. to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang

noun / ˈɪmprɛs/

1. the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment

Etymology: 16th Century: see im- in-², press²