Impressionable 
impressionable (im-presh'on-a-bl), a. [= F. 
(mprtttionnable i as IIH/H-CXSIOU + -tthlc,] Sus- 
ceptible of impression; capable of receiving 
impressions; emotional. 
The only B|M rial i'mj>/vm<imiM; organs for the direction 
of their actions. W. I!. Curii>-ntn; Micron., J 437. 
Here was this iirinres* paying to him snch attentions 
as must have driven u mure MHmMumoMf man out of his 
senses. If. ISlack, Princess of Thiile, p. 3-.'. 
The public Is like a child, as simple nnd as impi-eision- 
abte. Nineteenth Century, XX. 420. 
impressionableness (im-presh'on-a-bl-nes), . 
Impressionability. Imp. Hicf. [Bare.] 
impressional (im-presh'gn-al), . [< impression 
+ -/.] Relating or pertaining to impression; 
conformable to or guided by impressions or im- 
mediate or momentary effects on the mind: as, 
the imprcssional school of art or of literature. 
The resemblance, after all, could scarcely he called 
physical, and 1 am loath to borrow the word impresswiuil 
from the vocabulary of spirit mediums. 
Josiah ttuincy, Figures of the Past, p. 279. 
impressionalist (im-presh'on-al-ist), n. [< i/- 
+ -int.] Same as mprMtionw. 
As there is no limit to the number of our impressions, 
so there Is no end to the descriptive efforts of the tin- 
pressiunalists. The Natiun, Sept. 14, 1870, p. 103. 
impressionary (im-presh'on-a-ri), a. [< impres- 
sion + -ary.~] Same as impressionistic. Art Jour- 
nal, No. 53, p. 140. 
impression-cup (im-presh'on-kup), n. A me- 
tallic holder for the wax used to obtain an im- 
pression of the teeth in making artificial teeth. 
Also called impression-tray. 
impressionism (iin-presl/on-izm), n. [< ii- 
pressiuii + -ism.] In art and lit., the doctrines 
and methods of the impressionists ; the doctrine 
that natural objects should be painted or de- 
scribed as they first strike the eye in their im- 
mediate and momentary effects that is, with- 
out selection, or artificial combination or elab- 
oration. 
That aim at tone and effect, and nothing more, which 
is merely the rebound from photographic detail Into the 
opposite extreme of fleeting and shadowy Impressionism. 
F. T. Palgraee, Nineteenth Century, XXIII. 88. 
Impressionism Implies, first of all, Impatience of de- 
tail. The Century, XVIII. 482. 
impressionist (im-presh'on-ist), . [= P. im- 
pressioniste ; as impression + -ist.] One who 
yields to the influence of impressions, as in 
descriptive writing; specifically, a painter who 
aims to reproduce his immediate and momen- 
tary impressions of natural objects; one who 
attempts to render only the larger facts of 
mass, color, and effect, without regard to ex- 
actness of form or completeness of detail and 
finish. 
8ome artists say, "We do not paint truth of fact, but 
truth of impression." . . . The modern French sect of 
Impressionists have tried ... to carry the theory out In 
practice. P. G. llaiuerton, Graphic Arts, p. 80. 
impressionistic (iin-presh-on-is'tik), a. [< im- 
l>ri'Kxi(>iiint + -ic.] Of or pertaining to the im- 
pressionists ; characterized by impressionism. 
We have frequently found English critics speaking of 
any French work not belonging to the classical school as 
impressionistic. Saturday 7fc., No. 1474. 
impressionless (im-presh'on-les), a. [< im- 
/irrxsitii/ + -less.] Without impression or ef- 
fect; unimpressible. 
impression-tray (im-presh'on-tra), w. Same as 
impressive (im-pres'iv), a. [= Pg. It. impres- 
xirii; as (MftraM* + -ire.] 1. Making or tend- 
ing to make an impression ; having the power 
of affecting or of exciting attention and feel- 
ing; adapted to touch the feelings or the con- 
science: as, an impressive discourse; an im- 
cene. 
The faint sound of music and merriment . . . but ren- 
dcivd nititv I'm/uviM/M the monumental silence of the pile 
which overshadowed me. Irrinff, Alhambra, p. 84. 
Few scenes of architectural grandeur are more im- 
pressiiv than the now ruined Palace of the Caesars. 
J. Fergussan, Hist. Arch., I. 364. 
2. Capable of being impressed; susceptible; 
impressible. [Rare.] 
A soft and iuipmsiee fancy. 
J. Spencer, Prodigies, p. 75. 
= Syn. 1. Moving, stirring, affecting, touching, powerful. 
impressively (im-pres'iv-li), adv. In an im- 
pressive manner: forcibly. 
impressiveness ( im-pres'iv-nes), n. The char- 
acter or quality of being impressive. 
impressment (im-pres'ment), H. [< impress^ + 
-mi nt.] The act of impressing; the act of seiz- 
ing for public use. or of compelling to enter 
the public service; compulsion to serve: as, 
3019 
the impressment of provisions, or of sailors or 
nurses. 
In modern times, princes raise their soldiers by con- 
scription, their sailors by impressment. 
Everett, Orations, 1. 124. 
impressor (im-pres'or), n. [= OF. emprcxxni; 
nit/ii'i'sHi in', < ML. impressor, one who presses 
upon or prints, NL. a printer, typographer, < L. 
ini/ii'imere, pp. impresieus, press: see impress^-.] 
One who or that which impresses. 
It Is the first rule that whatever is not offered to the 
memory upon very easy terms is not duly tendered. For 
fancy is the receiver and impressor. 
Boyle, Works, VI. 333. 
impressuret (im-presh'ur), n. [< impress 1 + 
-are.] A mark made by pressure; indenta- 
tion; impression; stamp; dent. 
I knew not what fair imprrssure [in old editions impre*- 
tier] I received at first ; but I began to art ect your society 
very speedily. Middleton, Michaelmas Term, 11. 1. 
The impresture her Lucrece, with which she uses to 
seal. Skat., T. N., ii. 5. 
imprest 1 (im-presf). A former and still occa- 
sional spelling of impressed, preterit and past 
participle of impress*. 
imprest 12 (im-presf), r. t. [< '- 2 + presft. 
Hence impress 2 .] To advance on loan. [Eng.] 
Nearly 90,000 was set under the suspicious head of se- 
cret service, imprested to Mr. Guy, secretary of the trea- 
sury. Hallam. 
imprest 3 (im'prest), n. [< imprest 2 , v.] A form 
of loan; money advanced. See the extract. 
[Bug.] 
Moreover, sometimes the King's money was issued by 
Way of Prest, or Imprest de pnestito, either out of the 
Receipt of Exchequer, the Wardrobe, or some other of the 
King's Treasuries. Imprest seems to have been of the 
Nature of a concredltum, or accommodatum. And when 
a man had money imprest t-d to him, he immediately be- 
came accountable to the C'rown for the same. 
Ma JUT, quoted in N. and Q., 7th ser.. I. 253. 
Imprest accountant. See the extract 
An "Imprest" means an advance of public money, to 
enable the person to whom it may be made to carry on 
some public service ; and the person to whom the advance 
is made is called the imprest accountant. 
Ure, Diet, II. 888. 
Imprest money, money paid on enlisting soldiers ; also, 
money advanced by the crown for the purpose of being 
employed for its use. [Eng.] Imprest office, a depart- 
ment of the admiralty which provides for loans or ad- 
vances to paymasters and other officers. [Eng.] 
impreyalence, imprevalency (im-prev'a-lens, 
-len-si), n. [< in-3 + prevalence, -cy.] In- 
capability of prevailing; want of prevalence. 
[Rare.] 
That nothing can separate God's elect from his ever- 
lasting love, he proves it by Induction of the most power- 
ful agents, and triumphs in the impotence and impreut- 
Unce of them all. /.';. Hall, Remains, p. 270. 
impreventability (im-pre-ven-ta-bil'j-ti), n. [< 
impref eatable: aee-bility.] The state or quality 
of being impreveutable. Imp. Diet. 
impreventable (im-pre-ven'ta-bl), a. [< in-3 
+ preventable.] Not preventable; incapable of 
being prevented ; inevitable. Imp. Diet. 
imprevisibility (im-pre-viz-i-bif'i-ti), n. [< 
imprevisible : see-bility.] The quality of being 
imprevisible or unforeseeable. 
The notion of impressibility. Mind, XII. 622. 
imprevisible (im-pre-viz'i-bl), a., [< in-3 + 
previsible.] That cannot be foreseen. 
It must be allowed that the whole conception of which 
these strictly imprecisible acts form part can not be sci- 
entifically disproved. T. Whittaker, Mind, XIIL 119. 
imprevision (im-pre-vizh'on), n. [= F. imprt- 
rision = Pg. imprefisSo; as - 3 + prevision.] 
Lack of foresight ; carelessness with regard to 
the future ; improvidence. 
The whole realm of beggary and imprevition will make 
a hitch forward. The Century, XXVI. 826. 
imprimatur (im-pri-ma'ter). [L. (NL.), 3d 
pers. sing. pres. subj. pass, of imprimere, press 
upon, NL. print: see impress 1 , print.] 1. Let 
it be printed: a formula signed by an official 
licenser of the press and attached to the mat- 
ter so authorized to be printed. 2. n. A li- 
cense to print, granted by the licenser of the 
press; hence, a license in general. 
As if the learned grammatical pen that wrote it would 
cast no ink without Latin ; or perhaps, as they thought, 
because no vulgar tongue was worthy to express the pure 
conceit of an imprimatur. Milton, Areopagitica. 
As if a lettered dunce had said " 'TIs right," 
And imprimatur ushered it to light. 
Young, Satires, vii. 
imprimet, . *'. [< - 2 + prime.] To unhar- 
bor the hart, ffalliwell. 
imprimeryt (im-prim'er-i), n. [< F. imprimeric, 
printing, a printing-office or printing-house, < 
imprinter, print, press: see imprint, impress 1 .] 
imprison 
1. The art of printing. E. I'liUti/m, 1700. 2. 
A printing-house. 
You have those conveniences for a great imprimerit 
which other universities cannot boast of. 
Lord Arlington, To Oxford University. 
3. A print ; an impression. E, 1'hilUps, 1706. 
imprimingt, . [< L. in, in, + immus, first, + 
K.-inyl. Of. imprimis.] First act ion or motion. 
And these were both their springlngs and imprimingi, 
u I may call them. Sir II. n'uttvn, KellquUe, p. 164. 
imprimis (im-pri'mis), adv. [L., also <iuprimis, 
and prop, as two words, ' priuiix, lit. in the 
first, among the first things: in. in; primis, abl. 
neut. pi. of primus, first: see prime.] In the 
first place; first in order: a word introducing 
a series of specified particulars, as in the be- 
ginning of a will. 
In-primit, Grand, you owe me for a Jest 
I lent you, on meere acquaintance, at a feast. 
/;. Jonson, Epigrams, Ixxiil. 
imprint (im'priiit), n. [Formerly emprint, < 
OF. empreinte (F. empreinte = Pr. emprenta = 
Sp. It. imprenta), impression, stamp, mark, < 
empreint, pp. of emprtindrc, F. empreindre = Pr. 
enpremar = Sp. Pg. imprimir = It. imprimere, 
impress, imprint, < L. imprimere, inprimere, 
press upon, impress, NL. print: see impress 1 , Knd 
cf . prin t.] 1 . An impression made by printing 
or stamping; hence, any impression or im- 
pressed effect. 
Though a hundred and fifty years have elapsed since 
their supremacy began to wane, the imprint of their 
hands Is everywhere discernible. 
-; BUt. Civilization, II T. 
2. The publisher's name, place, and date (if 
given) in a book or other publication, on the 
title-page or elsewhere (originally often at the 
end of a book); also, the printers name and 
address: called respectively the publisher's and 
the printer's imprint. 
liut Pedro Venegas de Saavedra was a Sevlllan gentle- 
man, and Antonio hints that the imprint of the volume 
may not show the true place of Its publication. 
Ticlmor, Span. Lit, III. 29. 
imprint (im-prinf), c. t. [Formerly also em- 
print, enprint; < late ME. emprinten, enprinten; 
< OF. empreinter, emprainter, stamp, engrave; 
from the noun: see imprint, n. In E. the noun 
is rather from the verb. Cf. impress 1 and print, 
t\] 1. To impress by printing or stamping; 
mark by pressure; stamp: as, a character or 
device imprinted on wax or metal. 
They cut off the noses of men, and imprinted pictures 
in the flesh of women, whom they ouercame. 
1'urchas, Pilgrimage, p. 396. 
2. To stamp, as letters and words on paper, by 
means of inked types ; print. 
Enprynted by Wylllam Caxton at Westraestre. 
Cotoption of Caxton's Quatuor Sermonts. 
Bowbeit, two feats they may thank us for. That is the 
science of imprinting, and the craft of making paper. 
Sir T. More, Utopia, Ii. 6. 
The soul of roan being therefore at the first as a book, 
wherein nothing is and yet all things may be imprinted; 
we are to search by what steps and degrees it riseth unto 
perfection of knowledge. Booker, Eccle*. Polity, L 6. 
3. To impress, as on the mind or memory; 
stamp. 
[.Some] bane with long and often thinking theron im- 
printed that feare so sore in theyr ymaginacion that some 
of them haue not after cast it of without gruate dimcultie. 
Sir T. More, Work*, p. 1197. 
It seeming to me near a contradiction to say that there 
are truths imprinted on the soul which it perceives or 
understands not; imprinting, if it signify anything, being 
nothing else than the making certain truths to be per- 
ceived. Locke, Human Understanding, I. il. 5. 
imprison (im-priz'n), r. t. [Formerly empris- 
on; < ME. imprisonen, < OF. emprisonner (F. em- 
prisonner = Pr. empreisonar = It. imprigionare), 
imprison, < en- + prison, prison: see prison.] 
1. To put into a prison; confine in a prison or 
jail ; detain in custody. 
The Kynge, foryetyng his royalle honeste, take this 
Geff ray, and imprisoned Dim. 
Rob. of Gloucester, p. 464, note. 
When a debt is ordered to be paid by instalments, non- 
payment of any instalment constitutes a default for which 
the debtor may be imprisoned. 
fortnightly Hec., N. 8.. XLHI. 338. 
2. To confine, limit, or restrain in any way or 
by any means. 
Sad Jsculapius far apart 
Empritond was In chaincs reniedileue. 
Speneer, F. Q., I. T. 38. 
They haue much gold, but hold it an high offence to im- 
prison it, as some do with vs, in Cheats or Treasuries. 
Purchai, Pilgrimage, p. 429. 
Try to impritm the resistless wind. Dryden. 
= Syn. 1. To incarcerate, immure. 
