\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).
         His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed.
                                               --Shak.
2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to
   imprint (a mark or figure upon something).
3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to
   the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate.
         Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own
         hearts till we feel the force of them. --I. Watts.
4. [See {Imprest}, {Impress}, n., 5.] To take by force for
   public service; as, to impress sailors or money.
         The second five thousand pounds impressed for the
         service of the sick and wounded prisoners. --Evelyn.

\Im*press"\, v. i.
To be impressed; to rest. [Obs.]
      Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress. --Chaucer.

\Im"press\, n.; pl. {Impresses}.
1. The act of impressing or making.
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.
         The impresses of the insides of these shells.
                                               --Woodward.
         This weak impress of love is as a figure Trenched in
         ice.                                  --Shak.
3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp. --South.
4. A device. See {Impresa}. --Cussans.
         To describe . . . emblazoned shields, Impresses
         quaint.                               --Milton.
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.
         Why such impress of shipwrights?      --Shak.
{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.