Obs. [f. the vb. Cf. late L. expressus (u stem).]
1. The action of expressing or representing by words, signs or actions; an instance of this. Const. of.
1644. Bulwer, Chirol., 8. The Hand seems to enter into contestation, and to vie expresses with the Tongue.
1648. Eikon Bas., 94. With expresses of my desires.
1654. R. Boreman, Serm., Ep. Ded. So they might give to the world a Cleare Expresse of their gratitude to your Lordship.
1672. J. Howard, All Mistaken, I. in Hazl., Dodsley, XV. 332. My grief, alas! is far beyond express.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), XI. 156. Allow of no other expresses of our honour to him [God] but distance and amazement, silence and astonishment.
b. A condition or product in which something is expressed; a manifestation. (Revived by Kingsley with stress e·xpress, after i·mpress.)
1644. Jer. Taylor, Psalter cxxxvi. Making all Thy creatures to be expresses of Thy power.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 349. It seems to have been the common maxim of the Jews in our Saviours time,… that all afflictions were the expresses of displeasure.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., IV. iii. 232. Grace brings no merit When ’tis the express of our own self-will.
2. A mode of speech, phrase; an utterance.
1644. Hunton, Vind. Treat. Monarchy, v. 42. He compares these serious expresses to Trajans sudden and excessive speech.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., v. 84. I have shewed Scripture in its plain expresses to be an abundant rule of Faith.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1687, I. 361. Surely those expresses are used in condescension to signify the … charitable benignity of God.
b. A specific mention, statement or injunction.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. § 6. 91. This Gentleman … caused a man to goe downe … into the Sea, with expresse to take notice … where it [Coral] groweth.
1660. Fuller, Mixt Contempl. (1841), 206. They had no express in scripture that they should be freed from the particular miseries relating to this war.
1687. Towerson, Baptism, 343. Some express to signifie such a thing to be its purpose.
a. 1711. J. Norris, Misc. (1687), 215. They … contradict the general design and particular expresses of the Gospel.
3. A graphic representation, image; fig. a type, model (of virtues).
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. vi. 161. This Ene was first, all out, expres Of reuth, compassioun, and of gentilnes.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xx. 262. They discoursed in silence, and were intuitively understood from the theory of their Expresses.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Observ. (1684), 51. Some ancient Coyns have been called by the name of their Expresses, as … (saith Pollux) καὶ ἐκαλεῖτο βοῦς, ὄτι βοὺν εἶχεν ἐμτετυπωμένον, from the figure of an ox imprinted.
b. A ‘stamp,’ impressed character.
1667. Waterhouse, Fire Lond., 2. This fatal accident had a more than ordinary express of fury.
