Im*pres"sion (?), 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.
2. That which is impressed; stamp; mark;
indentation; sensible result of an influence exerted from
without.
The stamp and clear impression of good
sense.
Cowper.
To shelter us from impressions of weather, we
must spin, we must weave, we must build.
Barrow.
3. That which impresses, or exercises an
effect, action, or agency; appearance; phenomenon. [Obs.]
Portentous blaze of comets and impressions in
the air.
Milton.
A fiery impression falling from out of
Heaven.
Holland.
4. Influence or effect on the senses or the
intellect hence, interest, concern. Reid.
His words impression left.
Milton.
Such terrible impression made the
dream.
Shak.
I have a father's dear impression,
And wish, before I fall into my grave,
That I might see her married.
Ford.
5. An indistinct notion, remembrance, or
belief.
6. Impressiveness; emphasis of
delivery.
Which must be read with an
impression.
Milton.
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.
Ten impressions which his books have
had.
Dryden.
8. In painting, the first coat of color, as
the priming in house painting and the like. [R.]
9. (Engraving) A print on paper from a
wood block, metal plate, or the like.
Proof impression, one of the early
impressions taken from an engraving, before the plate or block is
worn.
