Obs. Forms: 4 enprece, -presse, 4–5 empresse. See also IMPRESS v. [a. OF. empresse-t, emprecier, f. en- (see EN-) + presser to PRESS.] trans. and absol. To subject to pressure, press, oppress. Also intr. to crowd, press eagerly into.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 43. And þere as pouert enpresses, þaȝ mon pyne þynk. Ibid., 528. Pouerte me enprecez & paynez innoȝe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yem. Prol. & T., 518. Such feendly thoughtes in his hert empresse.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3691. No man … ne may … of the reisins have the wyne Til grapes … Be sore empressid.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 4. Every man in hym silf let the passions of dolours be … empressid into vyfnes.
