Impresa \Im*pre"sa\, 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.]

My impresa to your lordship; a swain Flying to a laurel for shelter. --J. Webster.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Impress \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Impress \Im*press"\, v. i. To be impressed; to rest. [Obs.]

Such fiendly thoughts in his heart impress. --Chaucer.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Impress \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)