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Webster 1913 Edition

Impression

Im-pres′sion

,
Noun.
[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.
Shakespeare
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;
as, a copy from the fifth
impression
.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Impression

IMPRES'SION

,
Noun.
[L. impressio.] The act of impressing, as one body on another; as a figure made by impression.
1.
Mark; indentation; stamp made by pressure; as, a seal makes an impression on wax.
2.
The effect which objects produce on the mind. Thus we say, the truths of the gospel make an impression on the mind; they make no impression, or a deep and lasting impression. The heart is impressed with love or gratitude. We lie open to the impressions of flattery.
3.
Image in the mind; idea.
4.
Sensible effect. The artillery made no impression on the fort. The attack made no impression on the enemy.
5.
A single edition of a book; the books printed at once; as a copy of the last impression. The whole impression of the work was sold in a month.
6.
Slight, indistinct remembrance. I have an impression that the fact was stated to me, but I cannot clearly recollect it.

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