v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imprecated p. pr. & vb. n. Imprecating ] [ L. imprecatus, p. p. of imprecari to imprecate; pref. im- in, on + precari to pray. See Pray. ] 1. To call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imprecate the vengeance of Heaven on the guilty empire. Mickle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To invoke evil upon; to curse; to swear at. [ 1913 Webster ]

In vain we blast the ministers of Fate,
And the forlorn physicians imprecate. Rochester. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. imprecatio: cf. F. imprécation. ] The act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon any one; a prayer that a curse or calamity may fall on any one; a curse. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men cowered like slaves before such horrid imprecations. Motley.

Syn. -- Malediction; curse; execration; anathema. See Malediction. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of, or containing, imprecation; invoking evil; as, the imprecatory psalms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of precision. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. impregner. See Impregnate. ] To impregnate; to make fruitful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His pernicious words, impregned
With reason. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Semele doth Bacchus bear
Impregned of Jove. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being impregnable; invincibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. imprenable; pref. im- not + prenable pregnable, fr. prendre to take, L. prehendere. See Comprehend, Get to obtain. ] Not to be stormed, or taken by assault; incapable of being subdued; able to resist attack; unconquerable; as, an impregnable fortress; impregnable virtue. [ 1913 Webster ]

The man's affection remains wholly unconcerned and impregnable. South.

-- Im*preg"na*ble*ness, n. -- Im*preg"na*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Impregnate. ] (Biol.) Capable of being impregnated, as the egg of an animal, or the ovule of a plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. im- not + pregnant. ] Not pregnant; unfertilized or infertile. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Impregnate. ] That which impregnates. [ R. ] Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become pregnant. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Impregnated p. pr. & vb. n. Impregnating ] [ LL. impraegnatus, p. p. of impraegnare to impregnate, fr. L. pref. im- in + praegnans pregnant. See Pregnant. ] 1. To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; to render prolific; to get with child or young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) To come into contact with (an ovum or egg) so as to cause impregnation; to fertilize; to fecundate. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To infuse an active principle into; to render fruitful or fertile in any way; to fertilize; to imbue. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To infuse particles of another substance into; to communicate the quality of another to; to cause to be filled, imbued, mixed, or furnished (with something); as, to impregnate India rubber with sulphur; clothing impregnated with contagion; rock impregnated with ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. impraegnatus, p. p. ] Impregnated; made prolific. [ 1913 Webster ]

The scorching ray
Here pierceth not, impregnate with disease. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. same as fertilized, 1. fertile (vs. infertile)
Syn. -- fertilized, inseminated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. [ p. p. from impregnate. ] same as fertilized, 1.
Syn. -- fertilized, inseminated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. imprégnation, LL. impraegnatio. ] 1. The act of impregnating or the state of being impregnated; fecundation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) The fusion of a female germ cell (ovum) with a male germ cell (in animals, a spermatozoön) to form a single new cell endowed with the power of developing into a new individual; fertilization; fecundation. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the broadest biological sense, impregnation, or sexual generation, consists simply in the coalescence of two similar masses of protoplasmic matter, either derived from different parts of the same organism or from two distinct organisms. From the single mass, which results from the fusion, or coalescence, of these two masses, a new organism develops. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That with which anything is impregnated. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Intimate mixture; infusion; saturation. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mining) An ore deposit, with indefinite boundaries, consisting of rock impregnated with ore. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not prejudged; unprejudiced; impartial. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Impregnable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of preparation. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖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. 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 ]

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

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

n. The quality of being impressible; susceptibility. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. impressible. ] Capable of being impressed; susceptible; sensitive. -- Im*press"i*ble*ness, n. -- Im*press"i*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. impression, L. impressio. ] 1. The act of impressing, or the state of being impressed; the communication of a stamp, mold, style, or character, by external force or by influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is impressed; stamp; mark; indentation; sensible result of an influence exerted from without. [ 1913 Webster ]

The stamp and clear impression of good sense. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shelter us from impressions of weather, we must spin, we must weave, we must build. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which impresses, or exercises an effect, action, or agency; appearance; phenomenon. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Portentous blaze of comets and impressions in the air. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fiery impression falling from out of Heaven. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Influence or effect on the senses or the intellect hence, interest, concern. Reid. [ 1913 Webster ]

His words impression left. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such terrible impression made the dream. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have a father's dear impression,
And wish, before I fall into my grave,
That I might see her married. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An indistinct notion, remembrance, or belief. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Impressiveness; emphasis of delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which must be read with an impression. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Print.) The pressure of the type on the paper, or the result of such pressure, as regards its appearance; as, a heavy impression; a clear, or a poor, impression; also, a single copy as the result of printing, or the whole edition printed at a given time; as, a copy from the fifth impression. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten impressions which his books have had. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. In painting, the first coat of color, as the priming in house painting and the like. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Engraving) A print on paper from a wood block, metal plate, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Proof impression, one of the early impressions taken from an engraving, before the plate or block is worn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being impressionable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. impressionnable. ] Liable or subject to impression; capable of being molded; susceptible; impressible; as, a bad influence on impressionable youths. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was too impressionable; he had too much of the temperament of genius. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

A pretty face and an impressionable disposition. T. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being impressionable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. impressionnisme. ] (Fine Arts) The theory or method of suggesting an effect or impression without elaboration of the details; -- a disignation of a recent fashion in painting and etching. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. impressionniste. ] (Fine Arts) One who adheres to the theory or method of impressionism in art; especially, a painter who paints in the impressionistic style; as, the skyrocketing prices of paintings by the French impressionists. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, impressionism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the quality of not being impressed or affected; not susceptible. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. impressif. ] 1. Making, or tending to make, an impression; having power to impress; adapted to excite attention and feeling, to touch the sensibilities, or affect the conscience; as, an impressive discourse; an impressive scene. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being impressed. [ Obs. ] Drayton.

-- Im*press"ive*ly, adv. -- Im*press"ive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of seizing for public use, or of impressing into public service; compulsion to serve; as, the impressment of provisions or of sailors. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great scandal of our naval service -- impressment -- died a protracted death. J. H. Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL., a printer. ] One who, or that which, impresses. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. impressure, LL. impressura. ] Dent; impression. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imprested; p. pr. & vb. n. Impresting. ] [ Pref. im- + prest: cf. It. imprestare. See Prest, n. ] To advance on loan. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. It. impresto, imprestito, LL. impraestitum. See Imprest, v. t., and Impress compulsion to serve. ] A kind of earnest money; loan; -- specifically, money advanced for some public service, as in enlistment. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. Pepys.

n. A sum of money to be used as petty cash. [ PJC ]

{ } n. Lack of prevalence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being impreventable; inevitability. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not preventable; inevitable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Painting) A theory or practice which is a further development, on more rigorously scientific lines, of the theory and practice of Impressionism, originated by George Seurat (1859-91), and carried on by Paul Signac (1863- -) and others. Its method is marked by the laying of pure primary colors in minute dots upon a white ground, any given line being produced by a variation in the proportionate quantity of the primary colors employed. This method is also known as (stippling). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]