Also 4–6 expresse. [ME. expresse, a. OF. espresser, expresser = Pr. espressar, Sp. espresar, Pg. expressar, med.L. expressāre (15th c. in Du Cange), f. L. ex- out + pressāre to press, frequentative of premĕre, to press. Taken as Eng. repr. of L. exprimĕre of which the chief senses were 1. to press out; 2. to form (an image) by pressure, to represent in sculpture or painting; 3. to represent or set forth in words or actions.] I. To press out.
1. trans. To press, squeeze or wring out; to press (juice, air, etc.) from, out of (anything).
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 127 (MS. A.). & þei fulfillen þe wounde … as I have seid, with þe clooþ expressid of þe white of an ey.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. When men of malice … his venym vtterly expresse.
1569. R. Androse, trans. Alexis’ Secr., IV. II. 37. Put them all into an Orenge … and boyle them in hote embers, then expresse it.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., Chem. Concl., 16. Expresse their oile according to the manner herafter set down.
1638. T. Whitaker, Blood of Grape, 18. Newly exprest from the grape.
1757. A. Cooper, Distiller, III. lii. (1760), 226. Express the Juice and Spirit.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 96. To puncture the upper one [tumour], to express the contents.
1880. Daily News, 26 Feb., 5/2. The oil or oleomargarine is expressed from the fat.
b. fig. (a) To extort or elicit by pressure. † (b) To expel, get rid of, by force (obs.).
(a) 1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 232. Youre countrey weepinge to you with bloody teares, which your selfes do expresse, and wring out of her, and enforce her to shed.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXIX. iv. 365. The truth was by torture expressed.
1612. Webster, White Devil, I. i. B 1 b. Perfumes the more they are chaf’d the more they render Their pleasing sents, and so affliction Expresseth vertue, fully.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), I. 209. To employ them [Jews] as a spunge to suck their subjects’ money, which they might afterwards express.
(b) 1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., Ep. (1593), 6. Temperance which doth all fowle concupiscence express.
1583. K. James VI., in Holinshed, Hist. Scotl. (1585), 442. That … the veritie may be tried and all heresie and schisme … expressed.
2. To emit or exude, as if by pressure.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. i. II. ii. 21. Spirit is a most subtile vapor, which is expressed from the Blood.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 46. Ormus is an Ile … of which … the Siluer-shining Sand expresseth Sulpher.
1657. S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., 158. Waxe … expressing in some sort a scent of honie.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 110. Essences … into which a thousand flowers have expressed their sweetest breath.
1882. Pall Mall Gaz., 28 June, 5/1. Their honey-dew, which the aphides express when caressed by the antennæ of their masters.
3. To press or squeeze out the contents of. Now rare.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 289. To expresse and make use of that sweet fruit.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. vii. 197. A bladder blowne is weightier then one empty, and if it containe a quart, expressed and emptied it will abate about halfe a graine.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Nutmeg, Heat the Nutmegs in a Kettle, and then to express them strongly.
1882. Med. Temp. Jrnl., LI. 141. After the grapes have been expressed.
† 4. To press hard (in battle). Obs. rare–1.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xli. (1890), 152. Seeng herself so sore expressyd, her knyghtes and her men slayne.
II. To portray, represent.
5. To represent by sculpture, drawing or painting; to portray, delineate, depict. In general sense obs. or arch.; but surviving as a transferred use of sense 8: To render, set forth, convey a notion of (facts, characteristics, details) by plastic or graphic representation.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xxiii. 14. The ymagis of Caldeis expressid … in colours.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Log., I. i. 2 b. That paynter is most cunning who can most lively expresse his face whose counterfaite he is to drawe.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 311. Whereof [Amphitheatre at Verona] I haue expressed a picture in this place.
1720. Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1754), II. VI. ii. 598/2. In every Part of this Tomb are all the Sons and Daughters of this King expressed in solid Brass.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 155. Loggan used long strokes in expressing flesh.
1839. Murchison, Silur. Syst., I. xx. 265. Quarried down below the ordinary surface of the adjacent ground, as rudely expressed in this wood-cut.
† b. To be an image or likeness of; to resemble [After L. exprimere]. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 45/1. His handes expressyd the lyknes and symylitude of the more brother.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Acts xvii. 64. Man expresseth God … as the childe doeth resemble hys father or mother.
1635. A. Stafford, Fem. Glory (1869), 147. Her arms express the Crosse on which Hee dide.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., I. 32/2. Kids and Whelps their Syres and Dams express.
6. To represent symbolically. Said both of the agent and the symbol employed. In Math. to represent by a figure, symbol or formula. Phrase, To express (a quantity) in terms of (another).
1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, ii. 83. They should the better expres the condition of strangers.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. ii. § 6. A Child to express coming into the world, an old man for going out of it.
1684. R. H., School Recreat., 115. The Characters placed on the five Lines, express the Notes themselves.
a. 1749. S. Boyse, Triumphs Nat., 199. The dim twilight of the arch above Seems to express the queen’s disastrous love.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Fluxion, To express the fluxions of simple variable quantities … you need only put the … letters which express them with a dot over them.
1811. Hutton, Course Math., III. 372. The fluxional equa. expressing the relation between x and z.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 38. Instruments have even been described, which express upon paper … the several winds that have blown.
1838. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 34. If we express the composition of camphoric acid by the formula 5(C2H11/2)+O5.
1857. Maurice, Ep. St. John, xvii. 275. The divine, holy, self-sacrificing life which it [the blood sign] would appear to express.
7. To manifest or reveal by external tokens. Of actions, appearances, etc.: To betoken. Now almost exclusively with reference to feelings or personal qualities, the wider use being arch. or poet.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Pet. 1. He admonisheth them, that … they expresse a life worthie of their profession.
1612. Beaum. & Fl., Cupid’s Rev., I. i. (1615), B 2 b. If he be A god, he will expresse it vpon thee my childe.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 276. Such was the singular personal valour Ismael expressed.
c. 1720. Prior, Henry & Emma, 429. No longer shall thy bodice aptly lac’d … That air and harmony of shape express.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, xi. 31. I pray’d … To see the trees express their planter’s care.
1814. Jane Austen, Mansf. Park (1851), 177. Never did tone express indifference plainer.
c. 1850. Neale, Hymns East. Ch., 80. The excellence of beauty In Jesus was expressed.
1859. Tennyson, Vivien, 220. A robe … that more exprest Than hid her, clung about her lissome limbs.
1877. E. R. Conder, Bas. Faith, i. 10. Worship … directly expresses sentiment and emotion.
b. refl.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Pet. II. 10. The inheritance is ready … the possession whereof he hath … entered for your sakes, so that you expresse yourselves worthy of it.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 275/2. They have expressed themselves faithful in the performance of such things as were committed to their Charge.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., I. 262. God expressed himself in the landscape to mankind.
1859. Kingsley, Misc., I. 357. The inward beauty seldom fails to express itself in the outward.
8. To represent in language; to put into words, set forth (a meaning, thought, state of things); to give utterance to (an intention, a feeling).
Now the prevailing use; senses 5–7, so far as they survive, are often felt as transferred from this.
1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 24. Lady … Thy vertu and thy grete humylitee, Ther may no tonge expresse.
14[?]. Epiph., in Tundale’s Vis., 108. With hys mowthe who con the myrthe expresse?
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. iv. 236. Til hawe of þame knawlage Expressyd … in oure Langage.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. i. 23. Lo, I wil expresse my mynde vnto you.
1633. Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 190. As griefes concealed, so joyes expressed grow greater.
1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, I. i. (Arb.), 27. A phrase they have got among them, to express their no-meaning by.
a. 1684. Earl. Roscom., Ess. Verse, 42. Harmonious Horace flows With Sweetness not to be exprest in Prose.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., The Rose. I could not have expressed it half so well.
1832. A. Fonblanque, Eng. under 7 Administ. (1837), II. 257. The Princess expressed her surprise that the people in a famine did not eat buns.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. xxviii. 397. My chief difficulty as regards this theory may be expressed in a very few words.
1885. Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 448. The lease correctly expressed the bargain between the parties.
b. refl. To put one’s thoughts into words; to utter what one thinks; to state one’s opinion. † Also intr. for refl.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. i. 16. It charges me in manners, the rather to expresse myselfe.
1609. B. Jonson, Silent Wom., III. ii. (1612), F 3. What an excellent choice phrase, this Lady expresses in?
1659. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 325. Every man has not the gift of expressing himself so in short as others.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 5, ¶ 5. English Writers in their way of thinking and expressing themselves.
1884. A. R. Pennington, Wiclif, viii. 247. He expresses himself still more strongly in his unprinted writings.
¶ confused use.
1744. E. Heywood, Female Spectator (1748), I. 182. The admiration he expresses to have for her.
c. Of a word, phrase or statement: To represent (a thought, sentiment, state of facts); to denote, import, signify. Also with sentence as obj.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 4 b. The ordynary glose vpon the fyrst epystle of Saynt Paule to ye Corinthes doth expresse that … &c.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 124. Something … That shall expresse my true-loues fasting paine.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 51. No words can express too strongly the caution which should be used.
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, iii. 16. Every assertion or statement expresses the agreement or difference of two things.
† 9. a. To mention, specify. Obs.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxiv. 112. Þe messangere of Godd expressed þat nowmer [nyne] so specially.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Introd. (Roxb.), 2. An austyn frere Whos name as now I ne wyl expresse.
1463. Bury Wills (1850), 17. My frendys … as many as ben expressyd be name in this my seid wille.
1611. Bible, Num. i. 17. Moses and Aaron tooke these men, which are expressed by their names.
1640. Yorke, Union Hon., 84. M. Milles in his Catalogue never expresseth him.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. iii. 5. In this Table are expressed the common Coverings of the Belly.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1204. The respective crews of both ships, remained as expressed in the two underwritten lists.
† b. To give an account of, describe. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 752. It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse; And natheles yit wol I it expresse.
1548. Tindale (title), A Briefe declaration of the sacraments, expressing the fyrst oryginall how they came vp.
1573. Abp. Parker, Corr. (1852), 425. I thought it not against my profession to express my times, and give some testimony of my fellow-brothers.
1613. Heywood, Silver Age, III. Wks. 1874, III. 129. Heardsman, thou hast exprest a monstrous beast.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 12/96. Pelop’s Iv’ry Shoulder … with all the rest Of Grecian Tales, by Poets are exprest.
1798. Malthus, Popul. (1878), p. v. The Essay … was suggested as is expressed in the preface.
† c. To state or describe (an object) as, or to be (so and so). Also with for. Obs.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 36 b. Homage, fealtie, and .ii. s. by ye yere…. And this he maye expresse the seruyce of the rent.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard. (1599), 8. The Pope … was not ashamed … to call them his children, and expressed them to the world for such.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. vi. § 3. He expresseth Adrastus to be the first King of Sicyon.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 399. I would express him simple, grave, sincere.
1798. Dallas, Amer. Law Rep., I. 3. The bills of lading express this rum to be shipped on the risk of C.
† d. To designate, mention by a certain title.
1659. Pearson, Creed, 168. So Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Hoseah have expressed him, as we shall hereafter have further occasion to shew.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 45. The Wise man chuseth to express him by that Title of Creator.
† e. intr. To make mention, give an account of. Obs.
1430–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 79. Mony prouinces, of whom hit schalle be expressede by ordre.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XI. i. Fame gan to expresse Of jeoperdous way to the toure peryllous.
10. To state or mention explicitly; opposed to imply.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 260. Is it so nominated in the bond? It is not so expresst; But what of that?
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxii. 121. To other intent, than is in the Writing directed to them from their Soveraign expressed.
1724. Watts, Logic, III. i. Wheresoever any of these words are used, there is a perfect syllogism expressed or implied.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 4. Hints and allusions, expressing little, insinuating much.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 751. The promise must be expressed in the written memorandum or note.
† b. To draw up (a commission) in express terms; to make out expressly. Obs. rare–1.
1462. Paston Lett., No. 453, II. 104. Debenham hathe a comyscion of the Kyng expressed oonly for that schip named in hes comyscion.
