Etymologically
Log in

imprimo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word imprimo

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (premō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪm.prɪ.moː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈim.pri.mo][1]

Forms

imprimō (present infinitive imprimere, perfect active impressī, supine impressum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from in- “in, on” and premō “to press”.[2][1][3] It is also spelled ⟨inprimō⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of pressing one thing on another.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to press one thing on another, as Virgil's knee pressed down, in Cicero to plant the feet, and in Martial to imprint kisses.[2][6] From Lucilius it meant to drive in, especially a weapon, in Seneca to inflict a wound or sorrow, and in Propertius to press, crush.[2] In Cicero it meant to stamp, imprint, as his seal pressed a hundred times into wax, and in Virgil to put on a pattern or inscription.[2][4] In Seneca it meant to stamp a character, and in Cicero to impress on the mind.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to print, press into, engrave.[7] It survives in Italian imprimere, French imprimer and empreindre, and its participle impressus gave English impress in the late 14th century, impressiō gave English impression.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of pressing.[2][5]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of driving in a weapon.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a seal in wax and of the mind.[2][4][5]
  • late 14th century – English impress is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To press on; to plant (the feet); to imprint (kisses).[2]
  2. To drive in; to inflict.[2]
  3. To press, crush.[2]
  4. To stamp, imprint.[2]
  5. To put on (a pattern, a seal, a brand); to stamp (a character).[2]
  6. To impress on the mind.[2]
  7. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To print.[7]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Imprimo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/imprimo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·