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im·press²

(ĭm-prĕs)

tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es

1. To compel (a person) to serve in the military, particularly in the naval forces, especially by seizure.

2. To seize (property) by force or authority, especially for military purposes; confiscate.

3. Law To impose a constructive trust or a lien upon property, as a matter of equity, to protect a person without legal title but with a legally recognized interest.

n. (ĭmprĕs)

Impressment.

[IN-² + PRESS² (influenced by obsolete IMPREST, advance on a soldier's pay).]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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