imprint

Where does the word "imprint" come from? It comes from Latin premere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Imprint’s story begins in Latin: premere meant “to press.” To press, combined with in- (into). Within Latin, it grew into imprimere by ancient. To press into, from in- and premere. From there it passed into Old French as empreinte by medieval. Carried into French for a mark pressed into a surface. It reached English by 1400s as imprint. Settled as the English word for a mark made by pressing, or a lasting effect. Today, imprint means a mark made by pressing, or a lasting effect left on someone's mind or character.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient premere "to press", to press, combined with in- (into).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient imprimere "to press into", to press into, from in- and premere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval empreinte "a mark pressed into a surface", carried into French for a mark pressed into a surface.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s imprint "a mark made by pressing, or a lasting effect on someone's mind", settled as the English word for a mark made by pressing, or a lasting effect.