‖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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My impresa to your lordship; a swain
Flying to a laurel for shelter. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Impresarios [ It., from impresa enterprise. ] 1. The projector, manager, or conductor, of an opera or concert company. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, broadly: Any manager who organizes performances of a group. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. imprescriptibilité. ] The quality of being imprescriptible. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. im- not + prescriptible: cf. F. imprescriptible. ] 1. Not capable of being lost or impaired by neglect, by disuse, or by the claims of another founded on prescription; -- of rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

The right of navigation, fishing, and others that may be exercised on the sea, belonging to the right of mere ability, are imprescriptible. Vattel (Trans. ) [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not derived from, or dependent on, external authority; self-evidencing; obvious. [ 1913 Webster ]

The imprescriptible laws of the pure reason. Colerridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an imprescriptible manner; obviously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A device. See Impresa. [ 1913 Webster ]

An imprese, as the Italians call it, is a device in picture with his motto or word, borne by noble or learned personages. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be impressed; to rest. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

His heart, like an agate, with your print impressed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To produce by pressure, as a mark, stamp, image, etc.; to imprint (a mark or figure upon something). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: To fix deeply in the mind; to present forcibly to the attention, etc.; to imprint; to inculcate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Impress the motives of persuasion upon our own hearts till we feel the force of them. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. [ See Imprest, Impress, n., 5. ] To take by force for public service; as, to impress sailors or money. [ 1913 Webster ]

The second five thousand pounds impressed for the service of the sick and wounded prisoners. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Impresses 1. The act of impressing or making. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The impresses of the insides of these shells. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

This weak impress of love is as a figure
Trenched in ice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Characteristic; mark of distinction; stamp. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A device. See Impresa. Cussans. [ 1913 Webster ]

To describe . . . emblazoned shields,
Impresses quaint. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why such impress of shipwrights? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

pred. adj. having the conscious mind deeply or markedly affected or influenced; -- usually used with by or with. [ WordNet 1.5 ]