Forms: 4–6 expres, 4–7 expresse, 6– express, 7 compar. expresser. [ad. Fr. exprès (fem. expresse) Pr. expres, Sp. espreso, Pg. espresso, It. espresso, ad. L. express-us, pa. pple. of exprimĕre: see EXPRESS v.]
A. adj.
I. 1. Of an image or likeness: Truly depicted, exactly resembling, exact. Now chiefly with reminiscence of Heb. i. 3. Cf. EXPRESS v. 5.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 61/2. This is ye fathers own figure … ye playne expresse lykenes of ye noble Duke.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 36. Thy byrth doth shewe the expresse and liuely Image of gentle bloud.
1611. Bible, Heb. i. 3. The expresse image of his person.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 7. Shew thy selfe a patterne, and expresse type wherein [etc.].
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 528. Hee Created thee, in the Image of God Express.
1764. Reid, Inquiry, I. ii. 69. Language is the express image and picture of human thoughts.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., II. 431. The Deity is here described sitting … in the express form of the Minotaur.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. x. 125. The universe is the express image and direct counterpart of the souls that dwell in it.
b. Well framed or modelled. nonce-use.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 317. What a piece of worke is a man!… In forme, and mouing, how expresse and admirable!
II. (Cf. EXPRESS v. 6–10).
† 2. Of a fact, condition, etc.: Stated, explicitly recorded. In early use as pa. pple. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 719. Lo here expresse of wommen may ye fynde, That woman was the losse of al mankynde. Ibid. (c. 1386), Wife’s T., 313. Ther shull ye seen expresse … That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. v. 225. In all the Sum of days 122, there is not above 30 days but are windy, and rainy, or of express heat [cf. ibid. I. xii. 56 We must distinguish of warm Days, Days of Expressed Notation for Warmth or Heat].
3. Of a meaning, purpose, stipulation, law, etc.: Expressed and not merely implied; definitely formulated; definite, explicit. Of language, statements, indications: Definite, unmistakable in import.
When used of a law, stipulation, grant, etc., the adj. may have either this sense or sense 4, and often appears to have a mixed notion of the two.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 61. Wher can ye seen … That highe God defended mariage By expresse word?
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. xxvii. 151. Agane þe Lauch expres … chosyn wes Ðis Knychtis son.
1550. Bale, Apol., 117 b. Neyther … is ther any expresse doctryne of vowes in all the whole wurke.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 75. [He] commaunded, that none of his men shoulde goe out of the house without his expresse licence vpon payne of death.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. xvi. (1611), 49. We haue no expresse purpose to make that our end.
1605. Bp. Morton (title), An Exact Discoverie of Romish Doctrine…: Collected … out of the expresse dogmaticall principles of Popish Priests and Doctors.
1616. B. Jonson, Epigr., xl. All the gazers on the skies Read not in fair heaven’s story Expresser truth … Than they might in her bright eyes.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. cxviii. 27 Annot. 594/1. The insuing verse is express.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iv. § 13. We have the express testimony of Epiphanius.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 443. Express contracts are where the terms of the agreement are openly uttered and avowed at the time of the making.
1851. Ht. Martineau, Hist. Peace (1877), III. IV. ix. 22. Mr. Stanley’s answer was express and clear.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. li. 285. Sometimes by express, more often by a tacit understanding.
† b. Hence of persons or an authority: Distinct in making a statement, outspoken, explicit. state of mind: Fixed, free from vacillation. Obs.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 425. Theodoret … is most express against transubstantiation.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 17. Trismegistus is express in the assertion of the same Doctrine.
1667. H. More, Div. Dial., I. iii. (1743), 14. I love to feel myself of an express and settled judgment.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., IV. xix. § 16 (1706), 593 (J.). Where Reason or Scripture is express for any Opinion or Action, we may receive it as of Divine Authority.
1704. Lond. Gaz., No. 4037/5. Her Majesty is very express in what She proposes.
1778. N. Laurens, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), II. 117. Our Commissioners … are not so express … as they might have been.
† c. Of a voice: Distinctly uttered. Obs.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5667. Þe childe foloude and sayde þan, with’ a voyce expresse.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Ovid’s Met., XII. 71/422.
| Nor Silence is within, nor Voice express, | |
| But a deaf Noise of Sounds that never cease. |
d. Express malice (Law): malice of which there is actual evidence; opposed to implied malice, that which is inferred merely from the nature of the unlawful act committed. † Express witchcraft: ? manifest, open witchcraft.
1567. Scot. Poems 16th C., II. 260. O faithles flock!… Mantenaris of murther, witchcraft expres, Tresoun amang ȝow does daylie incres.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xiv. 199. Malice may be either express, or implied in law. Express malice is … when one, with a sedate … deliberate mind and formed design, doth kill another.
1808. Le Blanc, in East, Rep., IX. 363. Without proof of malice, either express or implied.
e. Specifically designated or considered; special.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., II. III. xiv. § 4. 96. When we treat of that express subject.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 23. 488. Natural History makes a more express business of the classifying operation.
4. Specially designed or intended for a particular object; done, made or sent ‘on purpose.’ Of a messenger: Specially dispatched. Also absol. in phrase † In express: ? for a purpose (unless this be an early instance of EXPRESS sb.2).
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., 115. Ffarewel, Gabryel … Goddys masangere expresse.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., II. 403. Rapes make wele to smelle In condyment is nowe the tyme expresse.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 209. Pilatus. I am sakles of this bloode … Both my handes in express weshen shalle be.
1524. Wolsey, in St. Papers Hen. VIII. (1849), VI. 317. I receyvid new letters from you, sent by an expresse curror.
1619. Vct. Doncaster, in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 137. Send … with all possible speede by an expresse messenger.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. x. 260. Express laws were made to prevent [it].
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), I. 16. In these two little offhand bits of writing … there is more insight obtainable, than in any of the express Biographies.
1874. Morley, Compromise (1886), 123. The social union is the express creation … of the Deity.
b. Express train. Originally = ‘special train’; but about 1845 applied to a train running ‘expressly’ for the conveyance of passengers to one particular place, and not stopping at the intermediate stations; now, a train running at a high rate of speed, and stopping only at a few important stations. Hence Express speed.
1841. Saunders, Rep. Committee Railw. Q. 2051. It was probable that an express train would come up.
1842. W. F. Cooke, Telegr. Railw., 19. I will now follow an Express, and therefore unexpected train in its course from Derby to Leicester.
1845. Bradshaw’s Rail. Guide, May, 14. The accommodation by the Express Trains being limited, Passengers who arrive first will have the preference.
1845. C. B. Vignoles, in Life (1889), 269. Went down to Birmingham by the ‘express’ train.
1849. Macaulay, Jrnl., 16 Aug. The express train reached Holyhead.
1862. [Eliz. Johnston], Gifts & Graces, xii. 127. We must step into an express train.
c. Express rifle: a rifle constructed to discharge a bullet with a high initial velocity and a low trajectory. Express bullet: an expanding bullet for use with an express rifle. Express shooting: shooting with an express rifle.
1884. Metford, in Walsh (‘Stonehenge’), Mod. Sportsman’s Gun, II. 12. This being a sort of ‘rough and tumble’ gauge of Express shooting at 100 yards.
1884. Sir H. Halford, ibid. II. 14. These rifles [made by Purdey in 1859] must be considered as the first of the class now known as Express—a term believed to have been first used either by the late Lord Henry Bentinck or by Lord Leconfield.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 10 July, 7/1. It has been proved that ‘express’ bullets are used by the Zulus or their allies.
d. Express delivery: (in the Postal service) immediate delivery by special messenger, on a system introduced in 1891; so express fee, messenger, packet, etc. [Here it is difficult to separate the adj. from attrib. uses of the sb.]
1891. Post Office Guide, Oct., 227. There is no Express delivery … on Sunday, Good Friday, or Christmas Day. Ibid. (1892), April, 17. On the delivery of an Express Packet, the delivering Messenger may take a reply…. The Express fee must be prepaid. Ibid., 18. Letters and Parcels are accepted for conveyance by Express Messenger to the General Post Office.
B. adv. [Cf. EXPRESSLY.]
† 1. Clearly, plainly, unmistakably. With verbs of speaking: In distinct terms, positively. Obs.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1158. Danyel … devysed sum tyme, As … is proued expresse in his profecies.
14[?]. Purif. Mary, in Tundale’s Vis., 130. To the law sche mekely wold obey From poynt to poynte the gospel seyth expresse.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 3389. Þis chapiter it schewes expresse What fandyng he tholed in sekenes.
1556. Lauder, Tractate, 255. Haue ȝe thare herts, I say expresse, Than all is ȝours that thay possesse.
1712. Berkeley, Pass. Obed., § 23. Such a contract is an express known part of the fundamental constitution of a nation.
† 2. a. Followed by against: Directly. b. With respect to dimension or number: Exactly. c. Completely. Obs.
a. c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 182. Virginius … holdeth expresse aȝeinst þe wille of me My seruaunt.
1578. Gude & Godly Ball., 158. The Leuittis … reft thair teind and mekill mair, Expres aganis Goddis command.
b. c. 1475. Partenay, 3004. Fiftene fote long this Geaunt was expresse.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 142. Also the yeres of our blessed sauyoure Syxe hundreth foure score and nyne expresse The Brytons were expulsed … From Englande to walles.
c. c. 1475. Partenay, 4357. Hys hauberke dismailled all expresse.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. ii. 52. To mak end of our harmis and distres! Our panefull labour passit is expres.
3. Specially, on purpose, for a particular end; hence (to go, send, etc.) with speed. In mod. use also, by express messenger or train.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Doctor’s T., 105. This mayde, of which I telle my tale expresse.
1667. Pepys, Diary (1879), IV. 368. I sent Mr. Clapham express thither to see how matters go.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4490/3. M. Osten … came Express … to make his Compliments to his Prussian Majesty.
1765. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass., iii. 398. A small vessel had been sent to England express … with a representation of the exposed state of the colony.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, IV. ix. As if the grand furniture and the grand servants had all come down express from town.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 2. A piece of news worth sending express.
Comb. 1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., xi. 278. No express-rider, no attorney, no magistrate.
C. sb.1
1. = Express messenger: see A. 4. Now Hist. or arch. exc. in sense of an express messenger of the Postal Department.
1619. Vct. Doncaster, in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 177. I will spedily advertise his Maty by an expresse.
1680. Lond. Gaz., No. 1536/4. An Express is arrived in 14 days from Madrid, but we know not what he brings.
1780. R. R. Livingston, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), III. 2. This hasty letter is written while the express waits.
1816. Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 34. Faster than an express could travel: at least in these regions.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, The Times, Wks. (Bohn), II. 118. Its expresses outrun the despatches of the government.
1891. Daily News, 4 April, 6/7. We expect the Post Office to convey the necessary orders—either by post, by telegraph, by telephone, or by ‘express.’
b. transf. The message sent by an ‘express’; a dispatch.
1642. ? Milton (title), Observations upon some of his Majesties [Charles I.] late Answers and Expresses.
1659. Pearson, Creed, 402–3. By an Expresse written to Tiberius, and by him presented to the Senate.
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., I. i. A new Express all Agra does afright.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. V. (ed. 2), 375. Cicero … received two expresses from his Brother Quintus.
1807. Beverley & Kexby Road Act, 6. Conveying the mails of letters and expresses under the authority of His Majesty’s Post-Master General.
18[?]. Wellington, in Daily News, 20 Nov. (1891), 5/1. I cannot tell the world … that Blucher picked the fattest man in his army to ride with an express home.
1854. Dickens, Hard T., II. ix. Bitzer had come … with an express from Stone-Lodge.
c. ? A special errand.
c. 1817. Hogg, Tales & Sk., III. 215. Tam’s wife had occasion to cross the wild heights on some express.
2. Short for a. express-train; b. express rifle.
a. 1848. Dickens, Dombey, lv. Express comes through at four, Sir.
1867. Trollope, He Knew, xxiii. [He] went down … by the early express to Exeter.
b. 1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Aug., 5/1. A wealthy ‘potter’ … blazed away with a double express at the deer compelled to pass him.
1888. Rider Haggard, Maiwa’s Revenge, v. 127. I … handing him the carbine, took from him my express.
3. U.S. An institution (conducted by private enterprise) for the transmission of parcels, etc. Also attrib. Cf. EXPRESS a. 4 d.
The carrying of goods by ‘express,’ first introduced in 1839 (see quot. 1858) has had an enormous development in the United States. In Great Britain the system exists, but the name is little used, though it has been adopted in the distinctive designations of one or two of the ‘forwarding agencies,’ as they are usually called.
1858. Homans, Cycl. Comm., 644/1 s.v. Express, William F. Harnden … started the express business. It was in the spring of 1839. Ibid., 645/2. The express companies … transmit nearly all the specie and bullion, [etc.].
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Express Office, an establishment which rapidly transmits parcels and goods. Express Wagon, the wagon in which packages, boxes, etc., are taken to and from an express office.
186[?]. Postage Stamp Inscr., Pony Express.
1863. Stamped Envelope Inscr., Paid, Wells, Fargo, & Co. Through our California and Atlantic Express.
1880. Daily News, 20 Nov., 5/4. An express clerk walks through the train, takes the checks of passengers who want their baggage delivered, and gives written receipts for them.
b. The goods carried by an ‘express.’
1858. Homans, Cycl. Comm., 644/1. Harnden himself acted in that capacity [as ‘messenger’],… carrying his entire express in an ordinary valise.
Hence Express v., U.S., trans. to send by express, Expressage, the sending of a parcel by express; the charge or cost of this.
a. 1860. Washington Republic, Bartlett Dict. Amer. The President’s message will be expressed through to Boston, by order of the Postmaster-General.
1864. Webster, Express, to send by express messenger. Expressage, the charge for carrying a parcel by express.
1880. Daily News, 20 Nov., 5/4. There is a saving in going by the horse-cars and ‘expressing’ the luggage at a shilling a trunk.
1883. Amer. Newspaper Advt., The books will be sent by express C.O.D., the receiver paying expressage or freight.
1888. Harper’s Mag., Dec., 162/1. Don’t decline a present simply because the expressage or postage has not been prepaid.
