imprest

¹

[ im-prest ]

noun

1. an advance of money; loan.

imprest

²

[ im-prest ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. simple past tense and past participle of impress ¹.

imprest

³

[ im-prest ]

verb

, Archaic.

1. simple past tense and past participle of impress ².

imprest

/ ɪmˈprɛst /

noun

1. a fund of cash from which a department or other unit pays incidental expenses, topped up periodically from central funds
2. an advance from government funds for the performance of some public business or service
3. (formerly) an advance payment of wages to a sailor or soldier

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprest¹

First recorded in 1560–70; probably noun use of obsolete verb imprest “to advance money to,” from Italian imprestare, from Medieval Latin imprestāre “to lend,” from Latin im- prefix + praestāre “to tender, offer, present”; influenced in sense by praes, stem praed- “guarantor, one acting as surety”; im- ¹, pre-; stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of imprest¹

C16: probably from Italian imprestare to lend, from Latin in- towards + praestāre to pay, from praestō at hand; see presto

Example Sentences

If I had been going into a real engagement I could not have been more deeply imprest by the importance of the occasion.

From Project Gutenberg

Arthur Mainwaring was a commissioner of the customs, and auditor of the imprest.

From Project Gutenberg

Awe-imprest, and wonder-struck, she softly opened her side curtain to look after it.

From Project Gutenberg

When I went to lunch at noon it was still raining very hard, but as I had no umbrella this simply imprest the subject on my mind.

From Project Gutenberg

So home, mightily pleased in mind that I have got my bills of imprest cleared by bills signed this day, to my good satisfaction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affect
• awe
• excite
• faze
• inspire
• sway
• thrill
• touch