请输入您要查询的英文单词：

　

单词 press
释义

pressn.1

Brit. /prɛs/, U.S. /prɛs/
Forms:

α. late Old English– press, Middle English presce, Middle English prisse, Middle English–1500s prasse, Middle English–1600s presse, 1700s paress, 1900s– prass (English regional (Yorkshire)).

β. Middle English preaase, Middle English preef (transmission error), Middle English preesse, Middle English prest (probably transmission error), Middle English price, Middle English prise (in a late copy), Middle English–1500s preas, Middle English–1500s prece, Middle English–1500s prees, Middle English–1500s preese, Middle English–1500s pres, Middle English–1500s prese, Middle English–1600s prease, Middle English–1600s preasse, Middle English (in a late copy)–1700s preace, 1600s preaze; Scottish pre-1700 pers (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 prace, pre-1700 prais, pre-1700 preace, pre-1700 preas, pre-1700 prease, pre-1700 preass, pre-1700 preasse, pre-1700 prece, pre-1700 preis, pre-1700 preise, pre-1700 preisse, pre-1700 pres, pre-1700 prese, pre-1700 preys, pre-1700 price, pre-1700 priess, 1800s praiss, 1800s prees, 1800s priest.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French pres.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman pres, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French presse, prese, Old French, Middle French presce, Middle French prece (French presse ) crowd, crush in battle (late 11th cent.), pressing device (late 11th cent.), trouble, difficulty (late 12th cent.), haste (c1200), cupboard for clothes (1371, now regional (Normandy)), printing press (end of the 15th cent.), printed products (especially newspapers) collectively (1738) < presser press v.1 Compare post-classical Latin pressa clothes-press (1392 in a British source), printing press (1501 in a British source), Old Occitan preensa (1412; Occitan premsa), Catalan premsa (1399 as prempsa; the -m- is apparently after prémer to press < classical Latin premere), Spanish prensa (1380–5; < Catalan), Italian pressa (a1300), all in sense ‘pressing device’, Portuguese pressa haste, urgency (13th cent.); also Middle Low German perse, presse pressing device, torment, fierce opposition in battle, Middle High German presse pressing device (German Presse pressing device, the press), Old Swedish präs pressing device (Swedish press act of pressing, pressing device, the press).On the form history see discussion at press v.1 The β spellings are rare in branch I., and where they do occur they normally show only the ambiguous form pres . In branch II. and in senses 10 and 11a the β spellings are relatively frequent, tending to suggest that there was some semantic restriction in the occurrence of the realizations with a long vowel; compare also discussion at press v.1 With sense 3a compare German Presse (1522 or earlier in this sense); compare also printing press n. With good (also bad, mixed, etc.) press at sense 3f compare French avoir une belle presse (1884), avoir une mauvaise presse (1889), etc.
I. An instrument or machine which exerts pressure, and derived senses.
1.
a. A device for compressing, flattening, giving a denser consistency to, holding, or shaping a substance by exerting pressure. Frequently with modifying word indicating the purpose of the instrument, the thing pressed, or the power or type of mechanism employed.baling, coining, cotton, hay, hydraulic, racket, screw, stamping, toggle press, etc.: see the first element. See also cheese press n.In quot. lOE at α. : a clothes-press.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for altering dimensions > [noun] > press
pressoura1398
press1674
presser1740
squeezer1839
α.
lOE Laws: Gerefa (Corpus Cambr.) xv. §1. 455 Fela towtola: flexlinan, spinle, reol, gearnwindan, stodlan, lorgas, presse, pihten, [etc.].
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 81 With hym ther was his sone, a yong squyer..With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in [v.r. on] presse.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. 213 Amonge þe riche rayes I rendred a lessoun..And put hem in a presse [v.r. prasse; A pressour; v.r. pryson] and pyned hem þerinne Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue tolled out threttene.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 412 Presse..of clothe, panniplicium, pressorium, involucrum.
1513 Act 5 Hen. VIII c. 4 §1 Divers Strangers..dry calander Worsteds with Gums, Oils, and Presses.
1532 T. More Confut. Barnes in Wks. (1557) 797/1 Stretched out as it wer in the presse or tenter hokes of a strong fullar.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Giii/1 A Presse for backs, prælium.
1674 in J. Simon Irish Coins (1749) 138 To import such a quantitie of copper blocks or chipps as may possible with two presses, to be coyned by the spring ensueing.
1741 Chambers's Cycl. (ed. 4) at Book-binding Then the back is turned with a hammer, the book being fixed in a press between boards.
1776 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (1796) I. 31 Directions for drying..Specimens of Plants... First prepare a press, which a workman will make.
1832 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. (ed. 2) 443 The wood is fit for..screws for presses, spokes for wheels, chairs, &c.
1873 E. Spon Workshop Receipts 1st Ser. 394/1 The necessary tools for small [book-binding] work are:..a sewing press; a cutting press [etc.].
1889 E. J. Wall Dict. Photogr. 219 The metal sheet bearing the impression now becomes a mould, and this is placed in a press.
1911 W. H. Koebel In Maoriland Bush viii. 122 A fleece goes flying through the air towards the man awaiting it in the press.
1974 R. J. Mills & E. Butler Tackle Badminton ii. 23 A [wooden] racket should be kept in an even-pressured press at all times when not in use... All-steel rackets..do not require a press.
1995 Kay & Co. (Worcester) Catal. Autumn–Winter 1057/4 Create beautiful scented flowers with the flower press.
β. 1594 in Bk. Old Edinb. Club XXV. 57 The west mylne of Dalry..quhilk is presentlie a paper mylne..ane pres for the said mylne.1619 in M. Wood Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1931) VI. 199 Ane pres for pressing of the saidis stuffes.1638 in R. W. Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage Scotl. (1876) I. lii Ane littill hand pres £18.0.0.
b. The apparatus for inflicting the torture of peine forte et dure. Cf. press v.1 1c, peine n. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > torture > instrument or place of torture > [noun] > instruments of crushing or compression
Scavenger's daughter1564
press1742
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 139 He would not plead to the Country..till the Press was ready; and then he pleaded, and was..hanged.
1839 W. H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard iii. xv The ponderous machine, which resembled a trough, slowly descended upon the prisoner's breast. Marvel..took two iron weights..and placed them in the press.
1892 Harvard Law Rev. 5 270 This method was sometimes accompanied by the press; at this period also a sharp stone or stake was placed under the prisoner's back.
1927 Jrnl. Amer. Inst. Criminal Law & Criminol. 18 369 He continued seven minutes under the press with 250 lbs., and then submitted.
1997 D. H. Grubin Fitness to Plead in Eng. & Wales ii. 10 One [highway robber]..asked to be returned to the court so that he could plead..; the other was put under the press.
c. Entomology. More fully silk press. A muscular structure in the mouthparts of certain larvae which regulates the characteristics of the silk thread which they produce.
ΚΠ
1898 A. S. Packard Text-bk. Entomol. 340 The unpaired portion, or spinning apparatus.., is divided into two portions; the hinder half being the ‘thread-press’, the anterior division the ‘directing tubes’.
1907 Amer. Naturalist 41 573 In the case of Apanteles glomeratus the press is highly developed.
1922 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 15 269 In this region is the silk press composed of muscles which control the flow of secretion.
1944 R. Matheson Entomol. for Introd. Courses iv. 110 Anteriorly the ducts from these glands unite into a common conduit which leads to a peculiar organ known as the silk press.
1998 R. F. Chapman Insects (ed. 4) ii. 34/2 This small gland possibly has a lubricating function as the silk passes through the press.
2.
a. A device for extracting juice, oil, etc., by exerting pressure. Frequently with modifying word indicating the thing pressed, the substance extracted, the product of the extraction, or the type of pressing apparatus used.cider, grape, oil, olive press, etc.: see the first element. See also wine press n.Recorded earliest in press house n. at Compounds 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for altering consistency > [noun] > press extracting liquids
pressour1348
press1373
apple mill1654
oil pressc1720
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > equipment for food preparation > [noun] > oil-press or -mill
pressour1348
press1373
oil mill?1440
oil pressc1720
wedge-press1844
pogy-press1880
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > wine-making > [noun] > wine-press
wringc890
pressour1348
press1373
calcatoryc1420
wine press1526
wine-vat1526
presser1570
vine-press1587
grape-press1615
α.
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 625 (MED) Til grapes to þe presse beo set, Þer renneþ no red wyn in rape.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 412 Presse, for grapys, or oþer lyke, torcular, prelum, pressorium.
?c1475 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 15562) f. 98v A Presse for wyne, lochinal , calcatorium [etc.].
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 258/1 Presse for lycour, pressover.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Mjv Suger presses, to presse ye sugre whiche groweth plentifully in certaine canes or redes of the same countrey.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique iii. lii. 550 Put them in a haire cloth or hempen bag, for to presse in a presse that hath his planke hollow and bending downward.
1646 in M. Cash Devon Inventories 16th & 17th Cent. (Devon & Cornwall Record Soc.) New Ser. 11 (1966) 81 In the Pownd howse: The Apple pownd or Press.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) II. 328 After your Apples are ground they should be..committed to the Press.
1760 J. Mair Tyro's Dict. 339 Prĕlum, a press for squeezing grapes or fruits.
1824 C. G. Garnett Night Before Bridal 57 The olive-press gave out its limpid oil.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 291 Presses used for expressing liquors, are of various kinds.
1887 T. Hardy Woodlanders II. ix. 149 [The travelling cider-maker's] press and mill were fixed to wheels instead of being set up in a cider-house.
1919 Vinegar Hand Bk. (Hydraulic Press Manuf. Co.) 33 (caption) The Cider and Grape Juice Press illustrated by Fig. 575, shows our 500-Ton Press for extra heavy duty service.
1955 H. J. Grossman Guide to Wines, Spirits & Beers (rev. ed.) v. 57 The amount of grapes which make one loading of a press is called a marc.
1981 Cook's Mag. Nov.–Dec. 10/1 Extra virgin is..pressed from hand-picked fine olives which are put through a manually operated small press.
2000 Wine May 90/1 BRL Hardy's Chateau Reynella in Australia still puts its grapes through a decidedly old-fashioned basket press.
β. 1373 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1914) VII. 354 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 6722) XXVI. 1 [2 houses.., one of them, called] Preshous [containing cider mills] in qua constructa est molendina pomorum.a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. Prol. 52 Bot my propyne com from the pres fute hait, Onforlatit, not iawyn fra tun to tun.
†b. Anatomy. [translating post-classical Latin torcular (Herophili) : see torcular n. 1] The confluence of the sinuses of the dura mater; = torcular n. 1. Also press of Herophilus. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > nervous system > cerebrospinal axis > brain > parts of brain > [noun] > torcular
press of Herophilus1578
torcular1657
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man v. f. 77v The quadruplication of Dura mater..is called a presse, & lyeth betwene the brayne and Cerebellum.
1694 W. Salmon tr. Y. van Diemerbroeck Anat. Human Bodies (new ed.) i. 385/2 Where these Hollownesses meet, there is that which is vulgarly call'd Herophilus's Wine-Press, or the Torcular Herophili.
1799 R. Hooper Compendious Med. Dict. at Torcŭlar Herophĭli The press of Herophilus. That place where the four sinuses of the dura mater meet together.
1842 R. Dunglison Med. Lexicon (ed. 3) 572/2 Press of Herophilus.
1876 T. Joseph Comprehensive Med. Dict. 566/2 Torcular Herophili. (Literally, ‘Herophilus' Wine-Press.’).]
3.
a. A machine, either manually operated or (latterly) power-driven, for leaving the impression of type (also woodcuts, engravings, or etchings, and more recently photographic images, etc.) on paper or some other smooth surface; a machine for printing, a printing press.Sometimes with defining word specifying the type of press, the inventor, or the printing process used, as bellows, cylinder, offset, Stanhope, wheel press, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > [noun]
print1499
press1535
stamp1548
printing press1553
printing machine1814
α.
1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. Cvv One bothe to wryte yt and to correcke it in the presse.
1574 Will of Johane Wolfe (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/56) f. 256v All the presses, letters, furniture, etc., belonging to the arte of prynting.
1594 R. Ashley tr. L. le Roy Interchangeable Course ii. f. 22 Then the gouernour of the Presse taketh these last chasies or fourmes, and laieth them on the marble of his Presse.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 11 His Presses have a solid and firm Foundation.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 37 There are two sorts of Presses in use, viz. the old fashion and the new fashion.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Bar, among printers, denotes a piece of iron..whereby the screw of the press is turned in printing.
1781 W. Cowper Let. 28 May (1979) I. 487 When the press is once set..[the printers] are rather impatient of any delay.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xiii. 343 The privilege of keeping presses was limited to the members of the stationers' company.
1853 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 8 10/1 Charles Earl Stanhope, whose versatility of talent succeeded in abolishing the old wooden printing-press, with its double pulls.
1896 W. D. Howells Impressions & Experiences 11 A second-hand Adams press of the earliest pattern and patent.
1915 Southward's Mod. Printing (ed. 3) II. i. 1 In the printing office the hand press is spoken of as the ‘press’ and the machine press as the ‘machine’.
1964 C. V. Wedgwood Trial Charles I (1967) iii. 57 They contrived..to print their sheets on small movable presses that could be easily concealed.
1988 Oxf. Art Jrnl. 11 13 All the works produced on mechanical presses were looked down on in favour of proofs on white paper or papier de chine.
2002 P. Baines & A. Haslam Type & Typogr. v. 110/1 It is usually printed on a four-colour press, which allows all four to be printed..in a single pass of the sheet through the machine.
β. 1580 Will 18 Feb. in Bannatyne Misc. (1836) II. 204 Nynetene stane wecht of prenting lettres,..ane furneist preis.
b. A place of business centred on the printing press, in which all the stages and processes of printing books, journals, etc., are carried out; an establishment (including its staff, offices, and equipment) that produces books; a printing or publishing house. Frequently with capital initial, esp. in the names of such businesses.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printing trade > [noun] > printing establishment
printing house1553
house?a1563
press1579
printing shop1589
printing office1600
print house1607
printery1638
typography1660
imprimery1663
chapel1688
print shop1845
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse To Rdr. sig. ☞7v Because you are learned amende the faultes freendly, which escape the Presse.
1590 ‘Pasquil’ First Pt. Pasquils Apol. sig. B When he carried his coppie to the Presse.
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper iii. 200 While these Sermons were betweene the Pulpit, and the Presse.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. iii. 87 There is a Press..for all Foreign Languages.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 263 The Presses swell'd with the most virulent Invectives against them.
1797 Monthly Mag. 3 46 An elegant and splendid edition of ‘Archimedes’, from the Clarendon Press.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vii. 263 The Dutch arms..were scarcely so formidable to James as the Dutch presses.
1888 A. Jessopp Coming of Friars vi. 264 The most sumptuous work that has ever proceeded from the Cambridge Press.
1900 H. Hart (title) Notes on a century of typography at the University Press, Oxford, 1693–1794.
1964 E. Huxley Back Street New Worlds iii. 36 There are several Polish presses in London and standards of production are high.
1989 F. Spotts in L. Woolf Lett. 276 The works published by the Hogarth Press are Leonard Woolf's greatest tangible legacy.
2003 M. Belson On the Press v. 149 After a few years training I became the collotype platemaker and my laboratory was situated in the old cellars of the Press.
c. The printing press in operation, the work or function of the press; the art or practice of printing. Now rare except as merged with sense 3d.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [noun]
print1499
impression1509
printing1509
impressing1530
press1579
imprimatur1640
typography1646
imprimery1681
presswork1728
imprimature1813
imprint1899
1579 W. Fulke Confut. Treat. N. Sander in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 661 His report is more to bee credited then the Printers presse.
1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon sig. **v The Italionate pen..affoordeth the presse a pamphlet or two in an age.
1641 W. S. in More's Hist. Edward V (new ed.) sig. A2 A booke..which having for many yeares escaped the presse,..I have thought it not amisse to put to my helping hand.
1654 E. Johnson Hist. New-Eng. 206 The Court..committed them [i.e., the laws] to the Press, and..they were printed.
1663 R. L'Estrange (title) Considerations and Proposals in Order to the Regulation of the Press.
1759 O. Goldsmith Pres. State Polite Learning xi, in Wks. (1854) II. 50 I fire with indignation when I see persons wholly destitute of education and genius indent to the press, and thus turn book-makers.
1817 I. D'Israeli Curiosities of Lit. 1st Ser. III. 193 Under..William III..the Press had obtained its perfect freedom.
c1880 Ld. Tennyson Despair xvi These are the new dark ages, you see, of the popular press.
d. With the. Newspapers, journals, and periodical literature collectively. Frequently with modifying word.This use of the word appears to have originated in phrases such as the liberty of the press, to write for the press, to silence the press, etc., in which ‘press’ originally had sense 3c, but was gradually taken to mean the products of the printing press. Quotations before 18201 reflect the transition between these senses.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journal > [noun] > generally
the prints1570
press1649
1649 Man in Moon No. 22. 181 They have done their best to stop the mouths of Ministers, and cannot they suffer the Press to be at liberty!
1661 A. Brome Songs & Other Poems 129 And carefully muzled the mouth of the press, Least the truth should peep through their jugling dress.
1776 Pennsylvania Evening Post 16 Jan. 1/1 Prosecutions have been commenced by the officers of the Crown, apparently for no other purpose than that of silencing the Press.
1797 Press (Dublin) No. 1. 1 By some fatality of late, the Press of the harassed country has been either negligent or apostate.
1798 Anti-Jacobin 9 July 281/2 For this purpose, the Press was engaged, and almost monopolized in all its branches: Reviews, Registers, Monthly Magazines, and Morning and Evening Prints sprung forth in abundance.
1807 Edinb. Rev. 10 115 Unlimited abuse of private characters is another characteristic of the American press.
1820 London Mag. 1 569 The Manager has thought it his duty to suspend the Free List during the representation, the public press excepted.
1820 London Mag. 1 575 The gentlemen-critics of the daily press.
1843 J. Ruskin Arrows of Chace (1880) I. 3 I seldom, therefore, read..the ordinary animadversions of the press.
1862 A. Trollope Orley Farm II. xiii. 97 There was also a reporter for the press.
1903 Everybody's Mag. Feb. 173/1 He..got his Express..and was at once rapt in the account of his Waterloo, as expanded by the ingenious press.
1931 F. L. Allen Only Yesterday viii. 189 The insignificant Gray-Snyder murder trial got a bigger ‘play’ in the press than the sinking of the Titanic.
1976 Times 21 May 2/5 For years we have heard Labour politicians screaming about the Tory press.
2001 A. Sayle Dog Catcher 223 Although the penguin had suffered no injuries, indeed it was me who had been badly pecked..I was pilloried in the press for hypocrisy and animal cruelty.
e. With singular or plural agreement. Journalists, newspaper reporters collectively. Also: an individual reporter. Chiefly with the.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > collectively
press gang1832
the fourth estate1837
gazetteerage1865
press1868
meeja1983
1868 ‘F. Fern’ Folly as it Flies 335 Recollections of at least one member of the press, glad, like ourselves, to escape from pen and ink.
1926 in S. Bent Ballyhoo (1927) ii. 55 At least a half dozen times since the wedding the unfortunate composer has been badgered by the press.
1949 ‘J. Tey’ Brat Farrar xii. 102 ‘He says he's a reporter,’ Lana said... ‘Oh, no!’ Bee said. ‘Not the Press. Not already.’
1951 M. Dickens My Turn to make Tea vii. 122 Sister..said that if I was The Press, Matron had deputed her to show me round.
1978 M. Butterworth X marks Spot ii. i. 73 Arrange for the exhumation forthwith. Seal off Highgate Cemetery... No Press. No television.
1992 J. Peters & J. Nichol Tornado Down xxii. 228 The press were still hanging around, doing their job, bugging us.
2000 New Yorker 6 Mar. 64/1 Tipper..thinks the press is always lying in wait to do a ‘gotcha’ story.
f. Journalistic reaction, coverage, or opinion; media publicity; (in extended use) appraisal in conversation or literature. Frequently with modifying word, as good (also bad, mixed, etc.) press.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > appearance in the press > [noun]
good (also bad, mixed, etc.) press1908
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > [noun] > an instance, act, or expression of > in writing > in the newspapers
good (also bad, mixed, etc.) press1908
1908 Times Lit. Suppl. 99/1 Mr. Leaf..has not had a good press lately.
1913 R. Fry Let. Oct. (1972) II. 373 Has it [sc. an exhibition] been a success, and has there been any decent Press on it?
1920 Sat. Rev. 10 July 26 Mr Austen Chamberlain has a very bad press.
1932 Statesman (Calcutta) 2 Aug. Allom had a lively Press last Wednesday!
1958 Listener 13 Nov. 769/1 Cromwell had rather a mixed press for his great day.
1976 Women's Rep. Sept. 4/1 Chiswick Women's Aid has had a good press recently because the DHSS has withdrawn some of its grant money.
1995 FourFourTwo Oct. 64/1 I must get more press than John Major because my name arouses the media.
2003 Times (Nexis) 6 Dec. (Body & Soul section) 3 Our knowledge rarely goes beyond such cliches and cannibals have tended to receive a rather poor press.
†4. Weaving. The mechanism in a jacquard loom which disengages from the lifting bar the needles which are not in use at a particular stage in producing a pattern. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1860 R. Hunt Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 5) II. 611 The name press is given to the assemblage of all the pieces which compose the moveable frame BB.
II. Senses relating to crowding or pressure of people, circumstances, etc.
5.
a. The condition of being crowded; a crowd, a throng, a multitude. Now somewhat archaic.In quot. ?c1225 at β. : †companionship, the society of people (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > [noun] > crowded condition or crowding
press?c1225
thronga1400
frequence1535
thrust1565
frequency1570
throngness1691
squeeze1802
crush1806
crowdedness1823
condensation1828
density1851
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > regarded as a whole or a body of people gathered > large or numerous > densely packed together
threatc950
press?c1225
thring?c1225
threngc1275
throngc1330
shockc1430
crowd1567
frequency1570
gregation1621
frequence1671
push1718
munga1728
mampus?c1730
squeezer1756
squeeze1779
crush1806
cram1810
parrock1811
mass1814
scrouge1839
squash1884
α.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 11025 Grete presse [Fr. presse] was at þe procession.
c1440 (c1350) Octovian (Thornton) 1091 (MED) Childe Florent was brogte into þe haulle With fulle mekille presse.
1557 Bible (Whittingham) Matt. viii. 1 Great presse of people folowed him.
1581 W. Stafford Compend. Exam. Complaints (1876) iii. 76 As in a presse going in at a straight, the formost is driuen by him that is nexte hym.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 17 Who is it in the presse, that calles on me? View more context for this quotation
a1657 J. Balfour Hist. Wks. (1824) II. 170 The presse so augmented, that the Ducke was forced to returne with speed to his lodgeing.
1742 J. Wesley Jrnl. 30 May (1749) 45 It was some time before I could possibly get out of the press.
1866 J. G. Whittier Our Master xiv We touch him in life's throng and press, And we are whole again.
1891 C. E. Norton tr. Dante Divine Comedy II. x. 64 Round about him there seemed a press and throng of knights.
1925 H. V. Morton Heart of London (1926) 75 Watch the way a press of omnibuses..will edge and nudge a way with a mere inch between their mudguards.
1955 D. W. Maurer in Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. No. 24. 174 A crowd is, to a pickpocket, a tip, a press, a crush, or a push.
1993 P. Ackroyd House of Dr. Dee (1994) iii. 110 I led my horse slowly through the busy press of people.
β. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 130 Ich wulle leade þe..into anlistude & þer ich wulle loueliche speoken to þin heorte. for me is lað presse.c1300 St. Lucy (Laud) 30 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 101 (MED) A womman..touchede þe lappe of ore louerdes cloþes ene Ase he eode In grete prece.c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 522 Greet prees at market maketh deere ware.c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2141 (MED) Medee..to hir chaumbre is allone y-come Whan oute of þe halle with-drawen was þe pres.1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. cxcviii. 177 Anon doth hym oute of prece [1520 prees].1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iii. sig. G.ijv The preas with crooked paws [sc. the Harpies] are out.1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C2 Far from all peoples preace.1602 B. Jonson Poetaster v. ii. sig. K3v Those that Custome rapteth in her preasse . View more context for this quotation1622 (?a1513) W. Dunbar Poems (Reidpeth) (1998) I. 65 Great was the pres of peopill dwelt about.1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. i. 80 Great belly'd women,..would shake the prease And make 'em reele before 'em. View more context for this quotation1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) Prees, crowd, press, Roxb[urghshire].
b. A crush in battle; the thick of the fight; an affray or mêlée. Now chiefly archaic and poetic.proud in press: see proud adj. 6a.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > battle or a battle > press of battle
pressc1330
toilc1330
torpelc1400
α.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 2162 (MED) Pirrus..This worthi queene among the press With dedli swerd soghte out.
a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) 851 (MED) Þe king forþ com & out of þe presce [a1450 London Univ. price] mid strengþe him nom.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 44 Grete was the preesse, and the bataylle fyers.
a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 867 And in the press so manfully them seruith, His suerd atwo the helmys al to-kerwith.
1610 J. Donne Pseudo-martyr x. 264 The huge and vast bookes of the Canon law, serue for his Guarde. For they..are seldom drawen to any presse or close fight.
1768 T. Gray Triumphs of Owen in Poems 104 There the thund'ring strokes begin, There the press, and there the din.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vii. 168 He..fought, sword in hand, in the thickest press.
1876 E. G. A. Holmes Onwardness in Poems 32 Brave burning hearts that 'mid the battle's press Dream of some final triumph dim and far.
1919 J. Buchan Mr. Standfast xxi. 395 In the press of a fight one scarcely realises death, even the death of a friend.
1998 W. J. Johnson tr. Sauptikaparvan of Mahābhārata iv. 18 In the press of battle, you shall, great warrior, Showing your valour, cut down the Pāñcāla foe, With all their retinue.
β. c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 8034 (MED) Gret ioie, wiþouten les, Þai made amidward þat pres.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 3848 (MED) Whan he þe kinges cry clenli hadde herde, as bliue with his burnes he braide in-to prese.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 716 Þe Troiens lees & fled fro þat mykelle prees.1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) li. 194 He brake & departed the grete preesses, so that his enmyes made waye byfore his swerde.c1503 Beuys of Southhamptowne (Pynson) 3087 Beuys thoroughe the preas dyd ryde.a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid x. xiv. (heading) Hym to ravenge his lyfe lost in the pres [1555 preis].1594 (a1555) D. Lindsay Hist. Squyer Meldrum l. 1135, in Wks. (1931) I. 176 Than Makferland, that maid the prais, From time he saw the Squyeris face, Upon his kneis he did him ȝeild.1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. iv. sig. D7 Into the thickest of that knightly preasse He thrust. View more context for this quotation1603 Whole Prophesie Scotl. sig. Aiv The proudest in the preis, to baill shal be brought.1700 J. Dryden tr. Homer 1st Bk. Ilias in Fables 202 When did'st thou thrust amid the mingled Preace, [rhyme peace]?
6. The action or fact of pressing together in a crowd; a crowding together; a crush. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > [noun] > crowded condition or crowding > action of crowding
pressc1300
prisec1540
α.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 904 (MED) This lettre cam, and ther was press Tofore the king, ther as he stod.
c1400 Life St. Alexius (Laud 622) (1878) 1114 (MED) Swiche presse was þe poeple among, þemperoures miȝtten nouȝth for þrong Beren forþ þe bere.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 134 There was such a presse to kisse his feet.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia at Mastigophorer An usher, who with whips removed the people, where there was much press.
1705 M. Pix Conquest of Spain 30 Smother'd by the press of barbarous Slaves; My self was..Imagin'd Dead.
1799 W. Godwin St. Leon III. xi. 256 The concourse and press of the crowd from all sides could alone have rendered this circumstance of any magnitude.
1833 H. Martineau Tale of Tyne iv The press of vessels near the port is very awful.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 369 The great press was to get near the chair where John Dryden sate.
1938 E. Waugh Scoop 10 Obliged by press of traffic to leave her little car in a garage half-way to Bethnal Green.
1978 ‘M. M. Kaye’ Far Pavilions i. 20 Many people who had been unable to find places in the courtyard had climbed to the top of the gateway, and two had fallen because of the press and been killed.
2003 S. Mawer Fall (2004) xv. 227 I remember the noise. And the great press of damp bodies.
β. c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 494 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 15 (MED) Þat folk him siwede with gret pres.c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 7117 (MED) His folk abouten him pres made.c1400 (?c1380) Pearl 1114 (MED) Þaȝ þay wern fele, no pres in plyt, Bot mylde as maydenez seme at mas So droȝ þay forth.c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 87 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 31 For to here hym wes sik prese, þat fawt of rowme gret þar wes.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xxiiijv Where was suche prease of the people, that harnesed men had muche a do to kepe them backe.a1643 W. Cartwright Lady-errant ii. iv, in Comedies (1651) sig. b6 Our Loves what are they But howerly Sacrifices, only wanting The prease and tumult of Solemnity?
7. The condition of being hard pressed; a position of difficulty, trouble, or danger; a critical situation; straits, distress, tribulation. Now rare (U.S. regional in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction
teeneOE
harmOE
sourc1000
trayOE
angec1175
wosithc1200
ail?c1225
barrat?c1225
misease?c1225
passion?c1225
troublec1230
sorenessc1275
grievancea1300
cumbermentc1300
cumbering1303
thro1303
angera1325
strifea1325
sweama1325
encumbrancec1330
tribulationc1330
threst1340
mischiefa1375
pressc1375
unhend1377
miseasetya1382
angernessc1390
molestc1390
troublancec1400
notea1425
miseasenessc1450
cumber?a1513
tribule1513
unseasonableness?1523
troublesomeness1561
tribulance1575
tine1590
trials and tribulations1591
pressure1648
difficulty1667
hell to pay1758
dree1791
trial and tribulation1792
Queer Street1811
Sturm und Drang1857
a thin time1924
shit1929
crap1932
shtook1936
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > difficult state of things > predicament or straits
needfulnessc1350
kankedortc1374
pressc1375
needfultya1382
briguec1400
brikec1400
plightc1400
taking?c1425
partyc1440
distrait1477
brakea1529
hot water1537
strait1544
extremes1547
pickle1562
praemunire1595
lock1598
angustiae1653
difficulty1667
scrape1709
premune1758
hole1760
Queer Street1811
warm water1813
strift1815
fix1816
plisky1818
snapper1818
amplush1827
false position1830
bind1851
jackpot1887
tight1896
squeeze1905
jam1914
α.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 183 Ȝe doþ hym wrong to smyten him on þis presse.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. lxxv. 216 Such Cordials, as frolicke the heart, in the presse of adversitie.
1793 J. Wilson Let. to William Pitt 19 This general distress in the commercial and manufacturing interests, must of course occasion a great press on the monied men.
1932 T. S. Stribling Store 455 ‘Toussaint was in a press,’ she called back in her soft voice. ‘I thought I would help him out.’
1967 J. Fetterman Stinking Creek 51 So much one season, so much another season; it keeps me in a press.
1972 J. S. Hall Sayings from Old Smoky 111 Floyd got into a press about payin' for this farm.
β. c1375 G. Chaucer Monk's Tale 3327 Lo, who may truste on fortune any throwe, For hym that folweth al this world of prees [v.rr. a prees, for prees, of prise], Er he be war, is ofte yleyd ful lowe.c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 222 (MED) Holde þai neuer þe pres be hew ne be hyde, Bot ay þe hen[d]yr hert after þai hade.1483 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) II. 161 (MED) I hold you happy that ye ar oute of the prese, for with huse is myche trobull.1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 129 The king wes then in full gret pres.1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccclvii. 577 They wolde not medell, nor be in no busynesse nor prease.1573 J. Davidson Breif Commendatioun Vprichtnes 153 Bot cheifly anis he was put to ane preace, Quhen that the Quene of tressoun did accuse him.a1614 J. Melville Autobiogr. & Diary (1842) 496 But pruff thy preass can nocht be understude.
8. Pressure of affairs, events, or circumstances; urgency, haste, hurry; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > haste
hiec1175
hightc1225
rapa1250
hyingc1275
rape?a1300
rekec1330
hastiheada1393
pressa1393
hastea1400
unhonea1400
racec1400
gethea1500
festination1541
festinancy1660
hurry1692
festinance1727
scurry1823
rush1849
jildi1890
α.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 4 (MED) Ferst whan..the kinde of man Was falle into no gret encress, For worldes good tho was no press, Bot al was set to the comune.
1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Vindic. Answer Hvmble Remonstr. xi. 111 Poore men cannot have their Presse wayted on, as your greatnesse may.
1790 J. Angresteen Authentic Acct. Barbarities Monsters 146 Q. How often do you work till twelve?—A. Only when hurried with a great press of business.
1836 Going to Service vi. 69 Roused to the press of an occasion, as if she acquired double power of diligence.
1888 ‘W. Châteauclair’ Young Seigneur 52 What..is your press about going to England?
1979 MLN 94 1021 A charmed world far removed from the quotidian press of his money affairs.
1997 Chicago Tribune 14 Dec. xiii. 6/4 The early morning tears are soon forgotten in the press of the day's events.
β. 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Norbert (1977) l. 177 He fleth þe pres, þe besinesse he had ere.1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. ii. xxii. 222 The fray and noyis..causit þe Veanis to rusche with maist preiss to harnes.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 11910 Þan the grekes by agrement gird into shippe, With proses and pres puld vp þere ancres.a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Biii Amid the flame and armes ran I in preasse.
9. Psychology. An influence in a person's environment which tends to affect his or her behaviour.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > experimental psychology > stimulus-response > stimulus > [noun] > occasioned by environment
press1938
1938 H. A. Murray Explor. in Personality ii. 40 A tendency or ‘potency’ in the environment may be called a press... For example, a press may be nourishing, or coercing, or injuring, or chilling,..or amusing or belittling to the organism.
1953 Jrnl. Abnormal & Social Psychol. 48 532/2 So we know two things about his narrators: their ambition and their most recent press. That press, as our hypothesis predicts, they projected directly into their..Tests.
1969 J. W. Getzels in G. Lindzey & E. Aronson Handbk. Social Psychol. (ed. 2) V. xlii. 501 There was no evidence that student press influenced the level of aspiration, at least so far as Merit students are concerned.
1973 Jrnl. Genetic Psychol. 123 87 Four slides were used to test for the presence of hostile press.
2002 Contemp. Educ. Psychol. (Electronic ed.) 27 376 No matter what their motivation, students may or may not experience an academic press from their learning environment.
III. A cupboard.
10. Now chiefly Scottish and Irish English. A large (usually shelved) cupboard, esp. one placed in a recess in the wall, for holding linen, clothes, books, etc., or food, plates, dishes, and other kitchen items. Sometimes attributive, esp. as press cupboard. Cf. clothes-press n., linen-press n. at linen adj. and n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > cupboard or cabinet > [noun] > recessed
thirla1300
pressc1387
pressour1444
presser1503
bow closet1759
α.
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 263 Of double worstede was his semycope That rounded as a belle out of the presse [v.r. on þe presse].
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 300v The moþþe..is ygendred of a corrupcioun of cloþe, whan þe cloþ is to longe in presse.
?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh.) (1950) 123 Ȝif þis herbe be put in an hutche or in a presse among clothes, it wyl kepe þe clothys þat no mowthes schall frete hem.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxi. 384 There were presses..in the whiche presses were gownes and robes of fyne golde, and ryche mantelles furryd with sabyls.
1566 Inventarium Monumentorum Superstitionis (Diocese of Lincoln) in E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. (1866) 67 One sepulcre—sold to Johnne orson and he haith made a presse therof to laie clothes therein.
1573 in F. G. Emmison Essex Wills (1994) (modernized text) IX. 20 My press cupboard in my parlour.
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. iii. 125 Each chamber hath a presse curiously painted and varnished belonging thereunto.
1686 Inv. in Essex Rev. (1906) 15 172 Two chayers, one presse cubbord.
1703 Inv. 2 Oct. in Probate Inventories Lincoln 1661–1714 (1991) 127 One Paress Cubbard.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom I. xiv. 80 He should..conceal himself in a large press or wardrobe, that stood in one corner of the apartment.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 125 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 561 Coffins stood round, like open presses.
1802 C. Findlater Gen. View Agric. County of Peebles iii. 41 The ambry, or shelved wooden press, in which the cow's milk, and other..provision are locked up.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany xiii. 221 In a press with glass doors, she showed me some beautiful reliquaries.
1888 J. M. Barrie Auld Licht Idylls ii. 50 A ‘press’ or cupboard containing a fair assortment of cooking utensils.
1915 J. Buchan Thirty-nine Steps vi. 147 It was the door of a wall cupboard—what they call a ‘press’ in Scotland.
1936 Esquire Nov. 56 I take one of Finn's white shirts out of the press for him.
1970 Canad. Antiques Collector Jan. 29/1 A further kind of cupboard..was called a press, or press-cupboard, and was about the same general size and shape as a modern wardrobe.
1995 E. Toman Dancing in Limbo ii. 55 The bass drummer kicked open the press in search of food; it yielded little but a few ends of hard bread and a scrape of margarine.
2014 @Laura_Egan 19 June in twitter.com (O.E.D. Archive) My mam has disappeared, leaving no food in the press.
β. 1444 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 100 Item, lego eidem j prese kiste in magna camera cum j warre kiste habentem ij stages.1618 in R. C. MacLeod Bk. Dunvegan (1938) I. 118 Item of readie money being within ane buist within the priess.1658 in W. Cramond Ann. Banff (1891) I. 140 Thoue brak wp ane of the dors of the prese.1693 G. Baillie Househ. Bk. (1911) 165 5 duble preses for books.
IV. Senses relating to the physical action or process of pressing.
11.
a. The action or an act of pressing; pressure, force; a pushing down or in. Now only as a count noun.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [noun]
distressc1384
press?1440
presseragec1450
thresting1481
thringing1483
thrust1513
squass1528
pressionc1540
squizing1565
pressure1601
squeezing1611
squishing1647
contrusiona1691
coercion1830
α.
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) ii. 189 Letuce..slitte her leues..And with a shelle or hutte adoun hem presse, And they wol glade & fatte vndir this presse [L. gloss prelo].
1818 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. New Ser. 1 307 The difficulty of starting the gate under so heavy a press of water.
1843 R. Nicoll Poems (ed. 3) 163 To repay him, a kiss I will gi'e, And a press o' the hand, and a glance o' the e'e!
1899 E. J. Chapman Dream's End. in Drama Two Lives 95 The proud lips meet with icy press.
1903 D. McDonald Garden Compan. 2nd Ser. 82 Give it [sc. the bulb] a gentle press sufficient to more than half bury it.
1955 Industr. & Engin. Chem. June 1198/1 Aerosol products are pressurized, self-spraying products that at the press of a valve button deliver an active ingredient in a fine spray.
1992 Dr. Dobb's Jrnl. Sept. 36/2 This code counts the number of key presses and releases.
β. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. i. 73 But eftir that the thrid syon of treis,..I schupe to haue wprevin with mair preise [rhyme peice].a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) f. 586v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Pres Be preis of the watter the hole verand mare ample and large.
b. Nautical. [alteration of earlier press sail n. at Compounds 2c] press of sail: (on a vessel) a great weight or number of sails; as many sails as possible hoisted, to increase speed. Cf. pressing sail n. at pressing adj. 3, crowd of sail at crowd n.3 3b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > [noun] > as much sail as ship will carry
press sail1592
press of sail1751
pressing sail1774
pressure of canvas1823
1751 Minutes Proc. Trial Captain Holmes 73 The Warwick had a greater press of Sail than us.
1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 111 The Admiral continued, with a press of sail, standing on close to the wind.
1794 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) I. 372 The gale..obliged me to carry a press of sail to clear the shore towards Cape Corse.
1806 A. Duncan Life Nelson 61 He bore away with a press of sail for Malta.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy II. x. 290 Foaming in her course and straining under the press of sail.
1884 ‘H. Collingwood’ Under Meteor Flag 92 I carried on under a heavy press of sail.
1975 J. Clavell Shōgun 896 The spars and rigging and halyards creaking and groaning under the press of sails.
1998 R. Firth Malay Fishermen ii. 42 Despite their small size and low freeboard, the boats tend to carry a large press of sail.
c. Gymnastics. A raising of the body by continuous muscular effort. Cf. press-up n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > [noun] > actions or positions
vaulting1531
cross-step1728
still-vaulting1854
roll1858
trampolining1867
planche1878
handstand1890
rollover1891
trapezing1894
press1901
straddle1905
kip1909
upstart1909
headstand1915
round-off1917
neck-roll1920
undergrip1920
pike1928
swivel hips1943
thigh lift1949
overswing1955
shoulder stand1956
stand1956
floor exercise1957
squat1959
turnaround1959
salto1972
Tsukahara1972
1901 Health & Strength Apr. 36/2 (heading) One arm body press... Lie flat on the ground..and with hand beneath centre of chest press the body up to arm's length.
1956 G. C. Kunzle & B. W. Thomas Freestanding i. 22 The presses to handstand are one of the best forms of strength training.
2004 San Luis Obispo Tribune (Nexis) 19 June c3 Bryn Anderson..got her press to handstand on the balance beam.
d. Weightlifting. An act of raising a weight to shoulder height, pausing, then gradually pushing it upwards above the head; a type of lift consisting of this sequence of movements. Also Bodybuilding and in weight training: any exercise involving a similar sequence of movements; frequently with modifying word indicating the part of the body exercised, as arm press, leg press, etc.; cf. bench press n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > athletics > [noun] > weight-lifting > types of lift
dead lift1828
jerk1894
press1906
clean1913
snatch1928
cleaning1949
1906 Westm. Gaz. 7 Sept. 3/2 Ordinarily I can do a one-arm press of 90 lb.
1908 Health & Strength Ann. 93 The Continental ‘Press’ can only be distinguished from our ‘Arm Press’ by a slight side wriggle.
1935 Encycl. Sports, Games & Pastimes 704/2 There are swings, presses, snatches, jerks, all made with one hand, as well as two-hand and shoulder lifts.
1978 L. Kramer Faggots 38 He did his daily..bench presses, tricep presses, chin-ups, seated curls, and shrugs on the extensive set of home weights he'd purchased.
1992 Olympics 92 (BBC Sports) 139/1 Weightlifting settled in 1928 for the result of each class being decided by the aggregate of three types of lift—the press, the snatch and the clean and jerk.
2004 Rugby World Feb. 151/2 Complete three sets of eight reps on hamstring curls, leg extensions and leg presses first of all.
e. The action of ironing or pressing clothes; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing
ironing1688
goffering1846
flat-ironing1879
pressinga1911
iron1922
press1932
1932 D. C. Minter Mod. Needlecraft 145/2 Muslin and lawn dresses usually require a final all-over press.
1957 J. Osborne Look Back in Anger i. 16 I'll give them a press while I've got the iron on.
1975 B. N. Byfield & F. L. Tedeschi Solemn High Murder i. 6 ‘These things could do with a press if that's possible.’ The smell of tropical mildew clung to the rumpled..clericals.
1998 Daily Mail (Nexis) 24 Aug. His shorts were a bit creased and she wanted to get out her trusty travel iron..and give them a quick press.
f. Basketball. Intense pressure applied by the defending team to the attacking team. full-court press: see full adj., n.2, and adv. Compounds 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > types of play
zone1927
zone defence1927
press1945
ankle-breaker2001
1945 Daily Register (Harrisburg, Ill.) 26 Feb. 5/4 They have been told of the ‘press defense’ used by Champaign.
1961 J. S. Salak Dict. Amer. Sports 341 Press (basketball), a maneuver designed to hamper the offensive team's ability to move the ball toward their basket. There are many types of ‘presses’.
1971 L. Koppett N.Y. Times Guide Spectator Sports iii. 86 The press itself creates openings for the offense.
1976 Honolulu Star-Bull. 21 Dec. h–1/5 A full-court press enabled Kalani to wipe out a 13-point third quarter lead.
1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 17 May 56/3 Placed in the middle of the Knicks' press..he became the team's resident dervish, known for his flurries of steals and blocked shots.
†12. A mark made by pressing; a crease. Obsolete.In quot. 1601 figurative: an impression.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > effect produced on emotions > [noun]
relesec1330
impressionc1374
feeling1597
press1601
impressure1607
impressa1616
resenting1632
feel1892
vibration1899
vibe1967
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [noun] > mark or crease made by pressing
press1601
crumple1607
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > corrugation > [noun] > wrinkled condition > wrinkle or crease
rimpleeOE
frouncec1374
runklea1400
wrinklea1420
ruge?a1425
crimple1440
wreathc1440
wrimple1499
rumple?a1513
scrumple?a1513
wimple1513
crease1578
bag1587
crinkle1596
pucker1598
press1601
crumple1607
creasing1665
ruck1774
cramp1828
fold1840
ruckle1853
bumfle1867
1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xl. sig. Cc6v Meditation goeth with so fainte a presse in my braine, that it is soone wiped out.
a1688 Duke of Buckingham Restoration (1775) 95 May their false lights undo 'em, and discover presses, holes, strains and oldness in their stuffs.
13. The action of pressing or pushing forward; an advance. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > [noun] > determined or urgent
push1740
press1893
1893 Daily News 14 Apr. 2/2 The press forward of the horse against the stress of the blast.
1895 Daily News 16 May 6/3 Russia is beginning to feel uncomfortable from the press forward of Chinese in her Asiatic States.
1987 Social Probl. 34 368 The press forward was impossible to stall, and those on the ground could not be protected.

Phrases

P1. Phrases connected with pressure of people or circumstances.
†a. to put oneself in press: to exert oneself, put oneself forward; to strive or undertake to do something (cf. press v.1 10). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or set oneself to do [verb (intransitive)]
found12..
to take on (also upon) one(self)a1300
assay1330
study1340
to put (also lay, set, etc.) one's hand to the ploughc1384
intendc1385
pressc1390
to put oneself in pressc1390
gatherc1400
undertakec1405
sayc1425
to fall in hand with (also to do (something))c1450
setc1485
obligea1500
essay?1515
attend1523
supprise1532
to set in foot1542
enterprise1547
address1548
to set in hand1548
prove1612
to make it one's businessa1628
engage1646
embark1647
bend1694
to take hold1868
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)]
fanda1225
procurea1325
assay1370
workc1384
to put oneself in pressc1390
purchasec1400
buskc1450
study1483
fend15..
try1534
enterprise1547
to make an attempt?c1550
to give the venture1589
prove1612
nixuriate1623
to lay out1659
essay1715
to bring (also carry, drive, etc.) one's pigs to market1771
to have (or take or give) a crack1836
to make an out1843
to go to market1870
to give it a burl1917
to have a bash (at)1950
c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 201 (MED) A glasen pot is wayk and liht To puiten him self to fer in pres A-ȝeynes a caudrun for to fiht.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 2440 (MED) Fulofte a man mai se Ynowe of suche, natheles, Whiche evere pute hemself in press To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. 2310 (MED) And S[c]euola..For comoun proffit..Put hym in pres, did his besi peyne To slen Porsenna.
?1499 J. Skelton Bowge of Courte (de Worde) sig. Aijv But than I thoughte I wolde not dwell behynde Amonge all other I put my selfe in prece.
a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) iv. xxxiv. f. 79v (MED) Eche of this handes schuld put him self in prees to helpe & defende the heed.
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman iii. v. sig. s Lest she be to homely, to put her self in presse, in company of her seruauntes, namely if she be yonge.
1551 Bible (Matthew's) Psalms xxii. 21 (note) The common people of the Iewes, who cruelly & furiously put them selues in prease agaynst Christe, cryinge, crucifie him, crucifie him.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccvijv We see hym put hymselfe in prease, to occupie a place in thys most noble consistorye.
†b. to put (forth) in press: to put forward, present, exhibit. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 78 (MED) Yit for to putte in prees my conceyte smalle, Goode wille me artethe take on me the peyne.
c1450 (c1393) G. Chaucer Scogan 40 Ne thynke I never of slep to wake my muse... While I was yong, I put hire forth in prees.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Oct. 69 The vaunting Poets found nought worth a pease, To put in preace emong the learned troupe.
c. in press: in a crowd, crowded together; in the thick of a fight, etc. Now archaic and poetic.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [adverb] > in the thick of the fight
in pressa1450
in the thick of1821
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > in/into one place, company, or mass [phrase] > crowded together
in pressa1450
as thick as hops1590
a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 44v (MED) Þey were ytauȝt also to knowe wele her baners, þat þei lese her warde ne her banere þoruȝ medling in prees.
1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. sig. Hiiij Ye Scottes..without ony mercy slewe euery man of our men that abode furthest in prece.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xvi. 74 Here will desire throng in prease, though it praise not in parting.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 755 They ran in prease with their wiues children and best mooueables, striuing who should first get out.
1669 Hist. Sir Eger 37 Sir Grahame a knight of aventure, In preass think on your paramour.
1827 R. Emmons Fredoniad I. 27 Close files, in press, behind each other, stand, And stretch in martial phalanx o'er the land.
1906 C. M. Doughty Dawn in Brit. V. xvii. 70 Riders of war-carts tumbled, rife, to grass, In press o'erthrown of flying men and chariots.
P2. Phrases connected with printing and publishing.
a. in (also †at, †under) (the) press: in the process of being printed or published.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [adverb] > in process of printing
in (also at, under) (the) press1535
1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale sig. Cvv One bothe to wryte yt and to correcke it in the presse.
1549 J. Leland Laboryouse Journey sig. E.iiij Part of the exemplaries..hath bene emprynted in Germany, and now be in the presses.
1612 Sir R. Naunton in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 113 The great work of his Chrysostome then under press.
1642 King Charles I in Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion (1702) I. v. 534 A Declaration now in the Press.
1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. Pref. sig. a1 Papers..discovered to have been lost when some of the rest were to be at the Press.
1721 London Gaz. No. 5961/2 A Memorial of the Grocers..said to be under the Press.
1764 E. Burke Let. to J. Dodsley 9 Feb. in Westm. Gaz. 12 Jan. (1898) 2/1 I suppose that by this our work is in the press.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. p. viii After the volume has been at press upwards of a year.
1860 G. H. Lewes Let. 4 Jan. in ‘G. Eliot’ Lett. (1954) III. 243 It will be well now to begin announcing it in lists—if not the title at any rate the fact of a new novel being in the press.
1936 Isis 25 518 A translation of the Imitatio Christi was already in press in 1669 when it was forbidden by the General Court because of its Popishness.
1977 D. Aitkin Second Chair vi. 57 He has a book in press about social class.
2001 Ann. Bot. 88 1214/1 (In press) Aspects of a Goethean science: complexity and holism in science and art.
b. to send (also commit, etc.) to (the) press: to submit to be printed or published.
ΚΠ
1582 T. Watson Ἑκατομπαθία: Passionate Cent. Loue Ep. Ded. The world..called vpon mee, to put it to the presse.
1605 Gunpowder Plot in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 5 Being about to commit them to the press.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 696 A stop was made for some years of bringing the second [vol.] to the Press.
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 3 274 It will be submitted to the Press in the course of the ensuing month.
1855 Harper's Mag. June 81/2 He may venture to send his travels to press, assured that he is not adding one to the myriads of bad books.
1872 ‘G. Eliot’ Middlemarch II. xlii. 367 I have long had on hand a work which I would fain leave behind me in such a state, at least, that it might be committed to the press.
1900 Dict. National Biogr. at Wolfe, Reyner Stow prepared for publication a history of England,..and was urged by Archbishop Whitgift to send it to press.
1997 Bks. in Canada (Nexis) Dec. 18 Before the famous courtesan sent her book to press in 1825 she offered, for a fee, to omit stories concerning her more famous habitues.
†c. to pass (also undergo) the press: to be printed. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. B2 Now thy notorious pamphlets hauing passed the Presse, it is to be feared he will come ouer thee for couenantes.
1632 P. Massinger Emperour of East Ep. Ded. sig. A2v Such trifles of mine, as haue passed the Presse.
1646 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. F. Biondi Hist. Civil Warres Eng. II. To Rdr. I know not whether they may ever undergoe the Presse.
1705 K. Philips Lett. from Orinda to Poliarchus 159 If it be condemn'd to undergo the Press once more, pray take into consideration what I writ to you..concerning the manner of a Dedication.
1784 S. Pegge Hist. Acct. Textus Roffensis 7 Sir Edward Dering..made a transcript..; and this he did with a public-spirited design of having it pass the press.
1830 W. Scott Ivanhoe in Waverley Novels XVI. Introd. p. xix What is called a taking title, serves the direct interest of the bookseller or publisher, who by this means sometimes sells an edition while it is yet passing the press.
d. out of press: (a) = off the press at Phrases 2g (now rare); †(b) out of print (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [adverb] > finally printed
off the press1660
out of press1674
society > communication > printing > publishing > [adverb] > out of print
out of print1580
out of press1674
1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse vii. 46 Any new work that is lately come out of presse.
1612 H. Peacham Gentlemans Exercise sig. A3 I saw it [sc. this discourse] found some fauour generally with the world, being since quite worne out of presse.]
1674 I. Newton Let. 17 Nov. in Corr. (1959) I. 327 Hearing yt Mr Kersies book is out of Press, I desire you would send me ye Fourth part.
1680 in Life & Wks. R. Boyle I. 109 Reprinting the new testament, and common prayer in Irish, these being now out of press, and the books of them extant hardly found.
1815 N. Amer. Rev. May 139 3 vols. printed, 4th will be out of press in three weeks.
1896 Indiana (Pa.) Weekly Messenger 14 Oct. Send name and address for New Catalogue out of press this week.
1931 E. S. Bradley H. C. Lea viii. 345 Before The Inquisition of Spain was out of press he had characteristically returned to the earlier study.
e. to correct the press: to correct the printing, or the errors in composing the type; to correct a text prior to printing or publication. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > correction > correct [verb (intransitive)] > proof-read
to correct the press1649
to read for press1828
1649 W. Dugdale Let. 2 Jan. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) xxiii. 175 Soe may he correct the presse, which will be an especiall matter.
1721 C. Middleton Farther Rem. Proposals for New Edition Greek & Lat. Test. 21 He had not so much Time as even to consult his Books, or correct the Press.
1797 J. C. Lettsom Hints to promote Benificence, Temperance, & Med. Sci. I. 48 He shall..correct the Press of such [papers] as are ordered to be printed.
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie I. xxx. 285 How to correct the press, and to put in the points, wi' the lave o' the wee perjinkities.
1848 Halliwell Ingelend's Disobed. Child (Percy Soc.) Pref. It was formerly a very common practice to correct and alter the press whilst the impression was being taken.
1867 E. Quincy Life J. Quincy 477 My father took an active interest in this publication, and corrected the press himself.
1906 Bedford (Pa.) Gaz. 23 Feb. 2/7 Lloyd..wrote the letters and you corrected the press.
1948 H. M. Smith Henry VIII Reformation ii. iii. 335 Grafton, Whitchurch and Gray..went to Paris, and with them went Coverdale to correct the press.
f. to go to press: (now esp. of a newspaper or periodical) to go to be printed; (of a person) to have work printed or published.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [verb (intransitive)] > start printing
to go to bedc1275
to go to press1711
1711 W. Whiston Second Reply to Dr. Allix 14 Does the Dr. never read over..what he hastily writes, before it goes to Press?
1774 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. §ii. 107/2 (note) It escaped me till just before this work went to press, that Dr. Percy had printed this elegy.
1809 Examiner 2 July 424/2 The Examiner goes to press some time before the commencement of afterpieces.
1855 J. Ruskin in W. G. Collingwood Life & Work J. Ruskin (1892) I. 194 Am going to press..on Gunpowder Plot day.
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 14 Nov. 2/1 The first numbers of the new daily will have to go to press as early as 11 p.m.
1929 W. B. Yeats Let. 13 Sept. (1954) 768 I should go to press with it next spring.
1961 Financial Times 11 July 6 At the time of going to press..it is not possible to determine any very definite trend of trading at the present time.
1996 Internet Underground Aug. 18/2 As this issue went to press, Schwartau released more revelations to the security community.
g. off the press: finished being printed; issued, published.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [adverb] > finally printed
off the press1660
out of press1674
1660 H. Hickman Laudensium Apostasia sig. a2 It [sc. the review] was almost off the Press before Mr. P...came to Oxon.
1823 J. Badcock Domest. Amusem. p. iv The first intelligence..of the sheets being in hand, was the announcement that they were also ‘off the press’.
1879 Cambr. (Ohio) Jeffersonian 13 Feb. 2/2 Its publication has been unreasonably delayed, the second volume having been off the press for five years.
1926 E. A. Powell In Bombay xx. 377 Before this book is off the press most of the main lines probably will have been broadened to standard gage.
1961 Post Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 23 July (Pictorial Mag.) 3/2 (advt.) A free copy of this new 36-page book, just off the press.
2000 Scotsman (Nexis) 17 Sept. 2 The Queen Mother has been given the first copy off the press of every book I've written.
h. to see (also carry) through the press: to supervise the printing or publication of.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [verb (transitive)] > oversee printing
to see (also carry) through the press1826
1826 Monthly Rev. 2 App. 532 He took them to Paris, for the purpose of seeing them through the press, but before he arrived at the close of his editorial labours he died.
1833 Times 15 Mar. 5/5 The translation..had not all the care bestowed upon it, in carrying it through the press, which a work of so much consequence demanded.
1858 Harper's Mag. Dec. 94/2 This Voltaire thinks should be published for the good of the world, and gladly undertakes to see it through the press.
1881 Athenæum 26 Mar. 425/3 The curious booklings which Elyot saw through the press during his lifetime.
1922 G. Smith Life W. Carey x. 193 Nor need we do more than refer to the..Persian, Malayalam, and other versions..edited or carefully carried through the press by Carey.
1957 Q. Rev. Biol. 32 61/2 Austin L. Rand undertook the delicate task of reducing the original manuscript and its illustrations to publishable size, and also saw it through the press.
2001 Brill's Content Feb. 137/1 An executive who signs up books and leaves others to do the donkeywork of seeing them through the press.
i. to read for press: to read a text for errors prior to printing or publication, to proofread. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > correction > correct [verb (intransitive)] > proof-read
to correct the press1649
to read for press1828
1828 Times 17 July 2/1 (advt.) If he can read for press, it will be considered an advantage.
1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 6th Ser. 57 To read for press—that is, to search for the minutest errors.
1891 Bibliog. Cat. Macmillan's Publications Pref. 5 The Publishers decided to describe as an Edition an impression from type set up afresh either with or without alteration and read for press by a proof-reader.
1941 Classical Rev. 55 12/1 The whole of Part II..has now been read for press and should appear in a few weeks' time.
j. going-to-press: (a) designating the time at which copy for a newspaper, periodical, etc., goes to be printed; (b) designating information (esp. stock exchange prices) as quoted by a newspaper, periodical, etc., at the time of its going to press. [After to go to press at Phrases 2f.]
ΚΠ
1857 Graham's Illustr. Mag. Feb. 182/2 We have, at the going-to-press-time, in which we write, just space sufficient to call the reader's attention to [etc.].
1901 Racine (Wisconsin) Daily Jrnl. 15 Feb. 1/6 A very competent operator takes down the words that come steadily [from the Associated Press wire] from eight in the morning until 3.30 in the afternoon or going to press time.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 24 Apr. 7/3 The following are going-to-press Stock Exchange prices.
2009 E. Atkins We bought Island i. 12 I frequently worked in my darkroom until 2am or 4am to meet the going to press deadline.

Compounds

C1.
a. General attributive.
(a) (In senses 2 and 1.)
press beam n.
ΚΠ
1772 L. de Saint Pierre Art of planting & cultivating Vine iv. 198 The two subsequent abaissements, or fallings of the press-beams, are called la premiere et deuxieme taille, the first and second cut.
c1850 E. A. Andrews Copious & Crit. Lat.-Eng. Lexicon 129/3 The lever or bar of a press, press-beam.
1890 Cent. Dict. Press-beam, a compression-beam.
1960 M. H. Morgan tr. Vitruvius Ten Bks. on Archit. x. iii. 293 Ballistae, pressbeams, and all other machines, produce the results intended..by turning about a rectilinear axis and by the revolution of a circle.
2004 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 30 Jan. 38 Olives were placed on the press beam and..donkeys (or women) were set to work turning the axle and crushing the olives.
press block n.
ΚΠ
1845 P. Barlow Manuf. in Encycl. Metrop. VIII. 756/2 The yarn guide, or perforated plate, through which the rope yarns pass individually to concentre at the press blocks.
1955 R. F. Barton Mythol. Ifuagos ii. ix. 139 They dig a hole for the end post of the sugar cane press. They set the press block.
1997 Wood Based Panels Internat. (Nexis) Oct. 34 An interesting feature of the press block is its speed of operation, and the means of achieving it.
press frame n.
ΚΠ
1781 M. Boulton in J. Tann Sel. Papers Boulton & Watt (1982) I. 56 Like a press-frame or a rolling Mill frame the whole power is exerted within it self.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 448 Fig. 460 is the elevation of the pestle and press-frame, their furniture, the mortars, and the press-pestles.
1999 P. R. Goldin Rituals of Way i. 16 Warped wood must await the bevel and press-frame and be steamed before it is straight.
press plunger n.
ΚΠ
1875 R. H. Thurston Rep. Machinery & Manufacturers in Rep. Commissioners U.S. to Internat. Exhib. Held at Vienna (1876) 330 The surface of the press-plunger was of well-hardened steel.
1884 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts 3rd Ser. 361/1 The die is easily reached by lifting the chamber e, which is done by attaching the same to the press-plunger and elevating the latter.
1995 Glass Internat. (Nexis) 1 Dec. 13 When used with turntable machines, claims the company, the press plunger is greatly overcharged.
press shop n.
ΚΠ
1793 Trade Notices 1 June in W. B. Crump Leeds Woollen Industry 1780–1820 (1931) 319 A Dye House and Press Shops. To be Lett.
1861 Sci. Amer. 8 June 357/1 The strips so prepared are now taken to the press shop, where the exact shape of the blank is cut out by fly presses.
1959 Motor Man. (ed. 36) i. 8 In the latest press shops, all the presses engaged in the production of one component are arranged in a long line, and are linked by roller conveyors.
1995 Thunder Bay 7/3 A range of modern, computer-controlled equipment which has made both the press shop and machine shop second to none among passenger rail car manufacturers.
press table n.
ΚΠ
1821 Times 5 Dec. 4/2 (advt.) Counters, press tables, gas fittings, leaden pipes, work benches, partitioning, two grindstones, and various other useful effects.
1869 Sci. Amer. 24 Apr. 261/1 Not only must the whole of the stone or marble floor of the press room be thus thoroughly scoured with hard brooms, but also the press tables.
1971 Engineering Apr. 20/2 Mounting of the equipment on the movable press-table is also easy.
(b) (In sense 3.)
press advertising n.
ΚΠ
1896 Times 9 Apr. 16/1 (advt.) Assistant manager of press advertising department wanted.
1939 Fortune Oct. 129/3 (advt.) Question: Does press advertising ‘pull’ well in England?
1961 Travel Topics June 41/1 When one first thinks of press advertising, it conjures up the thought of taking space in the national dailies or Sunday papers.
1998 Paper Focus May 6/3 Rankin has also done various work for some of the top magazines, as well as album covers and press advertising.
press boss n.
ΚΠ
1931 Fitchburg (Mass.) Sentinel 29 Jan. 6/5 Two press bosses, Lords Beaverbrook and Rothermere, have set out to force Empire Free Trade upon the Conservatives.
1998 Daily Mail (Nexis) 22 Oct. 2 Mr George told the press bosses that low inflation remained the priority above cutting interest rates to save jobs.
press camera n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > camera > [noun] > general types of
box camera1828
daguerreotype1839
view camera1851
pistolgraph1859
pinhole camera1861
panoramic camera1862
pantoscopic camera1865
pistolograph1866
pantoscope1879
detective camera1881
filmograph1881
photographometera1884
photochronograph1887
snap-shooter1890
stand camera1890
tele-objective camera1891
film camera1893
magazine camera1893
panoram1893
telephoto1894
mutograph1897
tele-camera1899
telephote1903
press camera1912
reflex1922
candid camera1929
minicam1935
single-lens reflex1936
plate camera1937
magic eye1938
subminiature1947
miniature1952
all-sky camera1955
microfilmer1959
stereo-camera1959
streak camera1962
gallery camera1964
SLR1964
TLR1965
spy-camera1968
pinhole1976
multi-mode1981
digicam1989
point-and-shoot1991
1912 Washington Post 21 July 12/6 The act..was burned amid ribald cries of the crowd and clicks of press cameras.
1964 M. McLuhan Understanding Media xx. 200 The press camera contributed to radical changes in the game of football.
1996 Time Mag. (Nexis) 27 May 20 For the rest of the morning, he beamed at the press cameras as he received congratulations and answered questions.
press campaign n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > press campaign
press campaign1886
1886 Times 30 Aug. 5/1 The whole Press campaign is the more inexplicable as those who carried it on must surely have been aware that they could only damage the Prince's cause by their partisanship.
1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride 40/1 The working woman was put into adolescent short skirts and told in big press campaigns that the age-old tyranny of man was at an end.
1992 Campaign 3 July 4/4 O & M's national press campaign broke this Wednesday and will run for five weeks.
press censor n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > publishing > publisher > [noun] > censor
gelder1564
purger1604
surveyor1663
press censor1853
smut-hound1927
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > keeping from knowledge > keeping from publication > [noun] > one who controls or suppresses > spec
censor1644
press censor1853
smut-hound1927
1853 New Monthly Mag. Oct. 158 Fancy the French Imperator's ‘sure appearance’, press-censors en suite, and Mr. Trench within shot.
1900 W. S. Churchill Let. 1 May in R. S. Churchill Winston S. Churchill (1967) I. Compan. ii. 1174 Wolverton is here, one of the press censors.
1968 R. Marett Through Back Door iv. 37 The bluff, nautical and unstarchy Chief Press Censor.
2002 Scotsman (Nexis) 14 Mar. 15 He was appointed press censor, but that was really cover for his job as head of counter-intelligence for Scotland.
press censorship n.
ΚΠ
1852 T. J. Vaiden Rational Relig. & Morals 203 She scouts all press-censorship that is not in perfect accordance with truth and honor.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Aug. 5/1 An aggressive and oppressive press-censorship.
1939 ‘G. Orwell’ in New English Weekly 12 Jan. 203/2 The radio, press-censorship, standardised education and the secret police have altered everything.
1998 Indianapolis Star 24 May a19/1 Indonesian activists circumvented press censorship.
press club n.
ΚΠ
1855 J. C. Hannibal Black Diamonds lxx. 231 De way de tribes belongin to de press club (dis club will break dere own heds yet), hab roasted Thackery, de English gemmen.
1865 Times 16 Dec. 5/4 A large audience assembled at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, under the auspices of the Press Club of that city.
1937 R. W. Desmond Press & World Affairs v. 259 The government also maintains an attractive press club for correspondents in good standing.
1995 Newsweek 13 Nov. 32/3 The Press Club event was just ‘chest thumping by portly conservatives’ afraid of having their weakness exposed.
press correspondent n.
ΚΠ
1865 T. W. Knox Camp-fire & Cotton-field 180 The press correspondents occupied various positions during the engagement.
1883 Mind 8 62 Now that they [sc. executions] are private, the press-correspondent must..depict the demeanour of the poor wretches as they mount the gallows.
1900 Macmillan's Mag. May 36 One of our press-correspondents at the present day.
1996 F. C. Pogue Supreme Command iv. 90 The Public Relations Division worked at the task of compiling a list of accredited photographers, press correspondents, and radiomen.
press-folk n.
ΚΠ
1729 J. Swift Proposal Ladies Appear in Irish Manuf. in Wks. (1765) VIII. i. 171 Mist..happened to reprint this paper in London, for which his press-folks were prosecuted.
1910 A. Bierce Coll. Wks. V. 234 So, Parson Stebbins, you've released your chin To say that here, and here, we press-folk ail.
1996 Asiaweek (Nexis) 29 Nov. 37 Call it guarded optimism, a sentiment expressed by many Hong Kong pressfolk.
press freedom n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > publishing > [noun] > freedom of press
liberty of the press1633
freedom of the press1646
free press1679
press freedom1705
1705 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus I. i. 21 That such Press-Freedom is allow'd To cozen and corrupt the Crowd.
1878 Times 10 May 4/1 Possessing all the political liberty, local self-government, and unrestrained Press freedom of England.
1927 C. Vesey tr. P. Wiegler William I 113 The Burgomaster Naunyn..announces in a loud voice that the King is in favour of Press freedom.
1974 Times 18 Nov. 15/1 Advertisers threaten press freedom if they try to use their advertising power as a form of censorship.
2002 Chicago Tribune 13 Jan. i. 19/5 That ‘public's right to know’ catchphrase has become a menace to the very press freedom it was supposed to protect.
press interview n.
ΚΠ
1888 Semi-weekly Age (Coshocton, Ohio) 30 Mar. The tone of the general press and press interviews, does not disclose any uncompromising fight on first choice.
1923 Radio Times 28 Sept. 18/3 Mr. J. W. Reith, the General Manager of the B.B.C...has managed to avoid..the usual press interviews.
1995 M. Amis Information (1996) 296 There's a press interview in Miami and a big radio slot in Chicago.
† press-Mohawk n. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1844 W. M. Thackeray Box of Novels in Fraser's Mag. Feb. 153/2 The nation..looks upon the press-Mohawks..as it did upon the gallant young noblemen who used a few years since to break the heads of policemen.
press organ n.
ΚΠ
1855 Times 13 July 12/3 None, therefore, says one of their press organs, will be identified with any observance incompatible with deference to the injunction.
1895 Daily Tel. 27 Aug. 4/7 The pernicious example..was followed by more than one Parisian press-organ.
1942 K. Loewenstein Brazil under Vargas ii. iii. 61 Both received much publicity in the Nazi-controlled German press organs of Brazil.
1994 Amer. Spectator Jan. 35/1 It is not Paris-Match and the other popular press organs that have gone ballistic over gatt.
press pass n.
ΚΠ
1876 Appletons' Jrnl. 25 Mar. 397/3 You may be entitled to a seat, and a good one, thanks to your special press-pass.
1914 Automobile Topics 6 June 303/1 Primary cause for protest was the method adopted by the Speedway management of distributing press passes.
1990 Market Newslet. (Bureau Freelance Photographers) Nov. 5/2 For all major events individual press passes are issued, and these are strictly limited.
press photo n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > [noun] > photograph by style or subject
high key1849
carte1861
carte-de-visite1861
wedding group1861
vignette1862
studio portrait1869
press photograph1873
cameo-type1874
war picture1883
mug1887
panel1888
snapshot1890
visite1891
fuzz-type1893
stickyback1903
action photograph1904
action picture1904
scenic1913
still1916
passport photo1919
mosaic1920
press photo1923
oblique1925
action shot1927
passport photograph1927
profile shot1928
smudgea1931
glossy1931
photomontage1931
photomural1931
head shot1936
pin-up1943
mug shot1950
wedding photograph1956
wedding photo1966
full-frontal1970
photofit1970
split beaver1972
upskirt1994
selfie2002
1923 Times 6 July 3/5 (advt.) Press photo salesman, experienced in selling news photos to newspapers.
1938 Public Opinion Q. 2 175/1 Press photos as propaganda media.
1997 Baltimore Mag. Aug. 52/1 In their press photo, Dru Hill looks cool, aloof, bad-ass.
press photograph n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > [noun] > photograph by style or subject
high key1849
carte1861
carte-de-visite1861
wedding group1861
vignette1862
studio portrait1869
press photograph1873
cameo-type1874
war picture1883
mug1887
panel1888
snapshot1890
visite1891
fuzz-type1893
stickyback1903
action photograph1904
action picture1904
scenic1913
still1916
passport photo1919
mosaic1920
press photo1923
oblique1925
action shot1927
passport photograph1927
profile shot1928
smudgea1931
glossy1931
photomontage1931
photomural1931
head shot1936
pin-up1943
mug shot1950
wedding photograph1956
wedding photo1966
full-frontal1970
photofit1970
split beaver1972
upskirt1994
selfie2002
1873 Grand Traverse (Traverse City, Mich.) Herald 22 May Press photographs of our country.
1919 Times 18 Jan. 9/5 Three Press photographs will be allowed to be taken of this historic scene.
1974 ‘J. le Carré’ Tinker, Tailor xxiii. 196 I had with me the American press photographs of the arrest.
2004 Morning Star (Nexis) 26 Jan. 9 Those grey and desolate faces that stare out at us from press photographs and documentary films of the Nuremberg trials.
press photographer n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > press photographer
press photographer1901
staff photographer1941
monkey1983
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > photographer > [noun] > professional
cameraman1883
press photographer1901
photojournalist1938
staff photographer1941
lensman1951
paparazzo1961
paparazzi1981
pap1988
1901 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 10 May Mr. Herreshoff took two press photographers by the throat, kicked them, locked them up and took their cameras away.
1974 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Other Story v. 44 One has to think of the reporters and press-photographers.
2001 London Rev. Bks. 22 Feb. 36/4 This immediately made it a more public occasion, as did the presence of a press photographer, which I found unbearable.
press photography n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > [noun] > types or methods generally
microphotography1857
pistolgraphy1860
portrait photography1864
pistolography1866
photochronography1887
snap-work1889
gallery-practice1891
photoreproduction1892
telephotography1892
Kodakry1893
fuzzyism1894
mugging1899
action photography1905
press photography1910
trick photography1913
Kodachrome1915
panchromatism1919
photo reporting1935
photojournalism1938
photo-reportage1939
strobe1949
streak photography1950
satellite photography1954
digital photography1972
time-lapse1975
1910 Times 1 Oct. 5/4 (advt.) The romance of press photography... Revealing the trials and difficulties of the picture-pressman.
1980 Times 3 Mar. 14/6 Life..was press photography for the press photographer at its most splendid.
2004 Times (Nexis) 26 Jan. 28 The special character of press photography..is that it can capture mood more strongly.
press reader n.
ΚΠ
1844 Times 24 June 2/3 (advt.) An experienced practical printer..wishes to obtain an engagement as editor, reporter, pressreader or overseer.
1854 G. A. Sala in Househ. Words 1 Apr. 153/1 The clerks who receive the advertisments.., and the compositors who set them up, and the press readers who revise them.
1901 Classical Rev. 15 396/1 A memorandum was therefore issued to editors, press-readers and printers.
1995 Daily Mail (Nexis) 20 July 44 Jane..is a press reader and Nick..is a typesetter.
press ticket n.
ΚΠ
1838 F. Calvert Let. July in E. M. Richardson Next Door Neighbours (1926) xviii. 248 We might have had Press tickets for the asking at the last minute, as they issued several more.
1851 J. Chapman Diary 10 July in G. S. Haight G. Eliot & J. Chapman (1940) 191 Spencer gave me a ticket for the Opera..and might have had an excellent place but for the vexing regulation that ‘press tickets’ must be exchanged which destroyed my chance of admittance.
1924 H. O'Higgins & E. H. Reede Amer. Mind in Action ix. 211 He lived as a free-lance in New York for five or six years,..going to the theater and the opera on press tickets.
1976 ‘D. Fletcher’ Don't whistle ‘Macbeth’ 17 Some idiot in the box office had allocated press tickets for the first matinée instead of the first night.
2003 Irish News (Nexis) 3 Dec. 28 My Spanish horribly letting me down in trying to organise two press tickets via the [footballl] club's offices.
press worker n.
ΚΠ
1767 W. Hanbury Hist. Rise & Progress Charitable Foundations 354 The compositor, having first set the types, shall assist the press-worker in printing them off.
1827 Times 19 Sept. 1/3 (advt.) A man who perfectly understands his trade, as a stamper and press worker.
1926 S. Nearing Educ. in Soviet Russia x. 121 Press workers, workers in libraries and museums, and workers in technical research are all members of the same educational body.
2003 Birmingham Post (Nexis) 16 Oct. 25 It capped what has been a truly successful period for the UK's largest independent pressworker.
b. Objective.
press-builder n.
ΚΠ
1869 Sci. Amer. 18 Sept. 177/1 The presses are manufactured by..well-known machinists and press builders, of South Boston.
2001 Metalworking Insiders' Rep. (Nexis) 5 July 1 Gains are stronger for manufacturers of cutting machines than for pressbuilders.
press building n.
ΚΠ
1883 Trenton (New Jersey) Times 5 Oct. The whole affair is provided by the proprietor of the Call, as a testimonial of his appeciation of the skill displayed by the workmen in press building.
1951 H. Lehmann-Haupt Bk. in Amer. 18 The industry of commercial press building was of relatively late development.
1999 Metalworking Insiders' Rep. (Nexis) 18 Jan. CEO of Allied Products Corp. assumed direct responsibility for Allied's largest division, its Verson pressbuilding operation.
† press haunter n. Obsolete rare.
ΚΠ
1597 G. Harvey Trimming T. Nashe sig. G3 To all ballet-makers, pamphleters, presse hanters, boon pot poets, and such like.
press-maker n.
ΚΠ
1761 J. Collyer Parent's & Guardian's Directory v. 224 The Press-makers are divided into different classes; some working for one or more trades.
1822 Pigot's London Directory 112/2 Mangle and Press Makers.
1926 D. Marshall Eng. Poor in Eighteenth Cent. v. 194 Tooting Graveney..apprenticed its boys to watermen, collar makers, peruke makers, stay makers, press makers, printers, [etc.].
2003 Printing News (Nexis) 28 July 8 As the pressmakers continue to overcome the obstacles, printers are more and more receptive.
† press-mauler n. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1705 J. Dunton Life & Errors iv. 244 He has been an indefatigable Press-mauler, for above these Twenty years.
c. Instrumental.
press-made adj.
ΚΠ
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Sept. 14/1 The original introducer of press-made pens.
1900 Daily News 11 May 3/2 The..theory that this is a capitalist- and Press-made war.
1997 Federal News Service (Nexis) 20 Mar. I've got enough problems without press-made feuds.
press-noticed adj.
ΚΠ
1900 W. Tinsley Random Recoll. I. vi. 127 One of the best press-noticed books I ever published.
1920 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 27 Nov. 2/5 Declining to attend any entertainments extravagantly press-noticed.
press-ridden adj.
ΚΠ
1845 Times 4 Oct. 5/6 It may be expedient in this press-ridden country to leave no room for opinions.
1902 R. Kipling Captive in Traffics & Discov. (1904) 4 At the rustle of the newspaper-wrappers the ginger-coloured man turned quickly, the hunger of a press-ridden people in his close-set iron-grey eyes.
1998 Irish Times (Nexis) 14 Aug. 15 The ‘overweening’ influence on society of the Catholic Church has been replaced by that of the media. From being priest-ridden to being press-ridden?
C2.
a. (In senses 1 and 2.)
press bar n. Bookbinding rare = press-pin n.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 158 The pressbar, or beam, has two holes upon its under surface, for securing it to two pegs standing on the top of the chest.
1975 M. Banister Bookbinding as Handcraft 13/1 The sloped (45° angle) faces cut into the press bars are sawed out with a bandsaw.
press brake n. a machine, typically powered hydraulically, for bending and folding sheet metal.
ΚΠ
1940 Times 9 Nov. 10/6 (advt.) For sale... Machinery and rolling stock. Including..80 and 200 ton press brakes.
1997 Metalworking Production Oct. 69/2 An articulated arm robot on the other side of the pressbrake handles the sheet during bending.
presscake n. †(a) a compacted cake of material formed during the manufacture of gunpowder; = mill-cake n. (a) at mill n.1 Compounds 2; (obsolete); (b) a compacted cake made from seed or beans during the process of extracting oil from them; material in this form.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > explosive for use with firearms > in specific form or state
corn-powder1562
train1587
meal-powder1782
green charge1825
gunpowder cake1839
mill-cake1839
presscake1839
pellet powder1868
prismatic powder1869
pebble powder1870
pebble1872
prismatic1894
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 629 The..mill-cake powder is laid on the bed or follower of the press,..so that when the operation is over, it comes out in large thin solid cakes, or strata, distinguished by the term press-cake.
1858 W. Greener Gunnery in 1858 43 Two pieces of lignum vitæ..are placed on the broken press-cakes in each sieve.
1934 C. C. Steele Introd. Plant Biochem. ii. v. 39 If the ground seeds are pressed at ordinary temperatures, cold-drawn oil..is obtained; the press-cake is then heated at steam-heat and passed into the presses again, giving hot-drawn oil.
1994 Independent on Sunday 27 Mar. (Review Suppl.) 55/2 Tempeh is a fermented presscake usually made from soya beans.
press drill n. (a) a drill in which the bit is pressed vertically down by means of a lever; †(b) = land-presser n. at land n.1 Compounds 3 (obsolete rare); (c) a seed drill that compresses the soil over the seeds as they are sown.
ΚΠ
1806 Times 5 Aug. 3/4 (advt.) The stock and implements in trade of Miss Sams, ironmonger..vices, hammers, a press drill, large screw plates, with dyes and taps.
1834 Penny Cycl. II. 224/2 In such soils an artificial pan may be formed by the land-presser or press-drill.
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 718/1 Press Drill, a drilling machine largely used in gun and sewing machine work.
1939 D. W. Malott & B. F. Martin Agric. Industries v. 221 The press drill is used most frequently, since the full power of the tractors is not required.
1994 Vincentian 22 July 16/2 (advt.) For sale... One 2–½ horse power 400 v, abrasive saw, 1–¾ hp 400 v, standing press drill.
1994 Grand Centre Cold Lake (Alberta) Sun 29 Nov. 32/4 24 ft. Melroe 204 press drills, built in transport, 1986. Not used last 5 years, done approx. 4000 acres.
† press-fat n. Obsolete a vat used for collecting the produce of a wine or oil press.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > vessels for other specific purposes > [noun] > for collecting produce in oil- or wine-press
pressing-fat1567
press-fat1611
1611 Bible (King James) Hag. ii. 16 When one came to the press-fatte [1885 R.V. winefat] for to draw out fiftie vessels out of the presse, there were but twentie. View more context for this quotation
press-forged adj. forged by the sustained application of pressure.
ΚΠ
1895 Daily News 14 Nov. 6/5 His gun, Captain Jaques explained, would be made of a few hollow, press-forged, cold-drawn, taper cylinders of alloyed steel.
1999 Adv. Materials & Processes (Nexis) 155 81 The press-forged component shows significant die-lock, while the hammer-forged component is highly uniform.
press house n. a building housing a press, or where pressing is done.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > building containing industrial plant > [noun] > types of
press house1373
tackle-house1562
press room1696
wheelhouse1883
1373 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Var. Coll. (1914) VII. 354 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 6722) XXVI. 1 [2 houses.., one of them, called] Preshous [containing cider mills] in qua constructa est molendina pomorum.
1664 in J. A. Johnston Probate Inventories of Lincoln Citizens 1661–1714 (1991) 8 In the presse house 2 presses and 5 paires of sheares.
1744 in New Jersey Archives XII. 211 To Be Sold,..A new Fulling-Mill, Press-House and Dye-House.
1878 J. Inglis Sport & Work iv. 34 The huge lever is strained and pulled at by the press-house coolies.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 25 Oct. 7/2 Allowing the populace to enter the press-house of the vine-yard.
1993 Wine May (Champagne Suppl.) 51/2 A visit to this cooperative is especially recommended for its brand new, brightly coloured press house.
press-key n. Bookbinding a butterfly screw used to tighten a press, esp. one in which a book is held while its pages are sewn together.
ΚΠ
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. ix. 371/1 Parts of a Binding Press... The Press Keys, those which make the Bands fast under the Board.
1890 Cent. Dict. Press-key, a small turn-screw used by book-sewers to tighten the cords of a sewing press.
press-pack v. now rare (transitive) to pack or compress (goods) using a press; usually in passive.
ΚΠ
1787 T. W. Williams Compend. Digest Statute Law 156 No bounty or drawback shall be allowed on any goods exported in bales press packed.
1828 Times 24 Dec. 3/3 The plaintiff suggested that they should be press packed, in order to reduce the expense of freight.
1941 Times 29 Jan. 9/1 The Camperdown Pressing Company..press-packed bales of raw jute for export.
press-packed adj. compressed and packed using a press.
ΚΠ
1844 Hull Dock Act 121 Coir, rough, press packed, per ton, 6d.
1994 Times (Nexis) 13 Feb. Heavy, press-packed bales of wool imported into Britain from Montevideo, Uruguay.
press-pin n. Bookbinding rare a bar used as the lever on a screw-press.
ΚΠ
1832 Times 4 June 3/6 He effected his purpose by striking the unfortunate gentleman..with a binder's press-pin (a short bar of iron).
1903 W. J. E. Crane Bookbinding for Amateurs ii. 9 Each press should be supplied with a round piece of wood..with which to screw it up and down when empty, and a short (4ft.) and a long (6 ft.) iron press-pin, fitting the screw socket.
1982 M. T. Roberts & D. Etherington Bookbinding & Conservation 204/3 Press pin. An iron bar used to tighten a large standing or lying press. Such pins come in two sizes—a short pin used by one man, and a long pin operated by two or more persons.
press plate n. a plate by which pressure is applied in a press.
ΚΠ
1738 N.Y. Weekly Jrnl. 6 Feb. (advt.) The fulling mill has two dying furnaces two Pair of Shears, a Press House, a Press Plate, Screw, and other necessary Tools.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1031 Upon the top of the ram, the press-plate or table..rests, which is commonly called the follower, because it follows the ram closely in its descent.
1999 Supermarket News (Nexis) 27 Sept. 33 Employees place a dough ball between two heated press plates, manually press it into a tortilla and then transfer it to the cooking disk.
† press pole n. Obsolete a pole used in pleaching to bend saplings.
ΚΠ
1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Agric. 1868 257 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc.) XV Two men use the press-pole,..the other uses the pleaching-hook.
press printing n. now rare a method of transfer printing on to ceramics, by pressing the design on to the surface before it is glazed.
ΚΠ
1852 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) I. 280/2 Press-printing, by which several colours can be printed at once.
1852 A. Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 4) II. 452 There are two distinct methods of printing in use for china and earthenware; one is transferred on the bisque..and the other is transferred on the glaze. The first is called ‘press printing’.
press tool n. a tool for applying pressure.
ΚΠ
1866 Sci. Amer. 28 July 58/3 (advt.) Used in connection with the lever..and the press tool.
1929 Evening News 18 Nov. 10/3 (advt.) Toolroom Charge Hand, used to the production of small press tools, drill jigs, etc.
1991 Metalworking Production Sept. 21 The product range covers all types of metrology equipment, moulds, dies, press tools,..and high precision components.
press-turf n. rare pressed peat, used as fuel.
ΚΠ
1916 Nature 25 May 269/2 The Whitewater Peat Company..manufactured press-turf for a short time.
pressware n. objects made by pressing and moulding a pliable material; (now esp.) articles made of pressed glass.
ΚΠ
1612 S. Sturtevant Metallica ii. 38 Press-ware or Mould-ware is any thing that can bee made, wrought, or formed of clay and earth,..by Presse and Mould, or by pressing and moulding.
1939 Wellsboro (Pa.) Agitator 4 Jan. 1/3 (heading) Wellsboro man becomes manager of Pressware Division, Corning Glass Works.
2001 Glass (Nexis) 1 Nov. 308 Renite makes a wide range of other products plus graphite spray lubricants and equipment for glass pressware and metal forging.
b. (In sense 3.)
press aide n. North American a person employed by a politician to deal with the media.
ΚΠ
1932 Los Angeles Times 30 June 11/1 (headline) Press aide's wife saved from lake.
1987 Toronto Star (Nexis) 1 Oct. a1 ‘I don't know of any plans at this time’ for Reagan to contact Prime Minister Brian Mulroney directly in a bid to save the talks, presidential press aide Dan Howard said yesterday.
2001 N.Y. Times Mag. 15 July 29/3 The consultants had lots of pros they wanted Kennedy to hire—schedulers, press aides, opposition researchers.
press association n. a press agency, esp. (usually with the and capital initials) the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, founded in 1868; abbreviated PA.
ΚΠ
1855 N.-Y. Daily Times 18 Apr. 1/1 (heading) Removal of the European Office of the Press Association... I have removed the Liverpool Office of the New-York Associated Press to No. 12 Exchange-street.
1870 Times 25 Apr. 5/5 It was telegraphed to this office..by the agents of the Press Association in London.
1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses & Other Stories 374 He took the press association flimsy from its spike and handed it to Stevens.
1996 Sun 13 Sept. 4/3 Both the Press Association and Reuters rushed to spread the story.
press attaché n. a diplomat responsible for the dealings of an embassy with the press; also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > diplomacy > [noun] > other diplomatic officers
chancellor1788
attaché1827
press attaché1898
counsellor1914
cultural attaché1937
1898 M. Busch Bismarck I. i. 9 Bismarck..sent him to Harry Arnim in Paris as a Press Attaché.
1913 Washington Post 2 Feb. 4/1 Emil Witte, a former press agent, or, as he described himself, ‘press attache at the German embassy’.
1980 ‘R. Deacon’ Spy! iii. 86 She had made a favourable impression with the press attaché.
2002 Church Times 28 Mar. 23/2 Fr Simpson also served as a press attaché in Africa and China for Archbishop Runcie in the early 1980s.
press baron n. a powerful newspaper owner, a newspaper magnate, esp. one who is a member of the peerage; cf. baron n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > newspaper proprietor > [noun]
press lord1883
publisher1911
press baron1924
1924 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 18 340 The press barons are unlikely to assume so indefensible a position in any future canvass.
1958 Spectator 20 June 794/3 The history of the rise in the peerage of the press barons..is one of the shoddiest episodes in the whole story of the press.
2004 Delicious June 88/2 The Chelsea Flower Show..is when the fat cats, press barons and political power brokers put on a show of noblesse oblige to salute the country's horny-handed sons of shrub and seed.
press blanket n. a piece of thick fabric used to ensure even pressure in a printing press.
ΚΠ
1854 T. F. Adams Typographia 256 The form is then laid with its face downwards on a letter-board covered with the press-blankets.
1890 Cent. Dict. Press-blanket, a flannel, cloth, or felt used on a printing-press to equalize the impression.
1988 Artist's & Illustrator's Mag. Feb. 46/1 The edges of the plates must be filed in order that during printing they do not cut the paper or the press blankets.
2003 Printing News (Nexis) 15 Dec. 12 Lapinski began his career in the newspaper industry..on the consumables side of the business, specializing in press blankets and printing plate systems.
press boat n. a boat reserved for the use of reporters at a boat race or other event.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > places reserved for journalists
press table1843
press room1869
press boat1870
press box1876
press stand1888
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > others spec.
weir-boat1436
monkey boat1813
night boat1839
commodore1847
sneak-boat1850
pitch-boat1867
press boat1870
love boat1913
patrol craft1919
refueller1929
gin palace1949
bumboat1972
1870 D. J. Kirwan Palace & Hovel xxiv. 363 By the side of the Press boat, the Umpire's boat..was anchored.
1933 H. Agar People's Choice ix. 273 As unmilitary a unit as was ever brought together, it..was well suited to this journalists' war, where press-boats were to follow the fleets into action.
2003 Boston Globe (Nexis) 3 July 3 ‘It's a very prestigious race,’ said Dill, who sailed on the press boat at the start.
Press Bureau n. (also with lower-case initials) = press office n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > release > specific organization's office for
Press Bureau1856
press office1873
1856 Times 13 Nov. 8/4 All those provincial papers which are in more or less direct connexion with the Berlin ‘Press Bureau’, highly approve of the idea of a Russo-French alliance.
1938 E. Waugh Scoop ii. i. 133 We're killing this story... Go round to the Press Bureau and have Benito issue an official dementi.
2003 PR Week (Nexis) 24 Jan. 13 The Scotland Yard press bureau started work on the story on Boxing Day.
press card n. a document that authorizes a reporter to practise journalism, or that gains a member of the press admission to an event.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > journalist's authorization
press card1905
1905 Times 1 Aug. 12/3 The chief of these is the issue..of a Press card, bearing the holder's photograph, which shall serve as a diploma or passport.
1951 ‘A. Garve’ Murder in Moscow iii. 41 I went on to see the head of the Soviet Press Department and collect my press card.
1976 Times 27 Feb. 15/2 The use of fake press cards by soldiers in Ulster puts genuine journalists in danger.
2003 Economist 18 Jan. 60/3 The EU says any accredited foreign journalist should be allowed to attend government press conferences by simply showing his or her press card.
press clipper n. a person who takes press cuttings.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > written record > compiler or keeper of written records > [noun] > keeper of album or commonplace book > specific
press clipper1895
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press-cutting agency > press-cutting > person who takes cuttings
clip-collector1888
press clipper1895
1895 Weekly Nevada State Jrnl. 27 Apr. 1/2 The official press clipper at the White House permits only such papers as contain those laudations to reach the President.
1903 Everybody's Mag. July 127/1 The press-clippers caught every reprint.
1995 M. F. Black Shaw & Joyce vi. 262 In Paris the avid newspaper reader and press clipper was making an epic montage of him.
press clipping n. originally U.S. a short excerpt from a newspaper, esp. an item physically cut out; = press cutting n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press-cutting agency > press-cutting
exsection1812
newspaper slip1830
cutting1856
clipping1857
press clipping1881
scissoring1881
press cutting1888
1881 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 29 Oct. (heading) Affairs in Georgia, as reported by the Constitution's correspondents... Press clippings.
1903 Christendom Apr. p. ii (advt.) United States Press Clipping Bureau.
1920 Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 143/1 A press-clipping association.
1942 D. Powell Time to be Born (1943) i. 20 Julian fussed with some press clippings.
2003 Latina Oct. 120/1 Her mother..proudly keeps every press clipping about her star hijita.
press conference n. an interview given to journalists in order to make an announcement or answer questions.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press conference
press conference1908
news conference1937
the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] > conferring or consulting > a conference > particular types of
parliament?a1400
diet1471
symposiac1603
by-conference1625
guestling1629
sanhedrim1653
comitia1684
symposium1784
assembly1794
powwow1812
neighbourhood meeting1823
colloquium1861
congress1861
party conference1875
indaba1894
press conference1908
case conference1913
story conference1920
telemeeting1973
poster session1974
START1981
presser1988
1908 Times 10 Nov. 12/4 The executive committee..have in hand the arrangements for the Imperial Press Conference, which is to be held in London.
1976 Eastern Evening News (Norwich) 9 Dec. 1/5 ‘I don't believe anyone in this industry wants a dispute,’ Sir Derek said at a Press conference during a visit to Bedlay Colliery Lanarkshire.
2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 18 July ii. 7/2 In the now legendary White House press conference of March 6, 2003, not a single reporter..asked a tough question about anything.
press-conference v. rare (transitive) (a) (reflexive) to gain oneself an advantage or position by utilizing press conferences; (b) to make the subject of a press conference (in quot. in passive).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > make news available [verb (transitive)] > give press conference
press-conference1953
the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse with [verb (transitive)] > discuss or confer about > hold discussion with > specific group
press-conference1953
1953 Manch. Guardian Weekly 2 Apr. 7/4 Another general was soon to press~conference himself into the Presidency.
2003 Edmonton Sun (Nexis) 9 Jan. SP12 They hold up a team jersey after being press conferenced at the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association office yesterday.
press corps n. newspaper journalists collectively; a group of reporters, esp. in a specific place or of a specified type.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journalist > [noun] > reporter > group of
press corps1864
1864 Dubuque (Iowa) Democrat 10 June 2/4 We of the press corps are semi-officially cautioned not to criticize the recent newspaper seizures in New York.
1932 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 26 169 The personnel of the House and Senate is disposed of and the press corps passed in review.
1974 Sunday Times 21 July 1/3 A 200-strong international Press corps confined to the hotel by the island's [sc. Cyprus's] 24-hour curfew.
2000 Fairlady (Cape Town) 21 June 130/1 Only 80 members of the foreign press corps turned up at a recent tourism indaba in Durban.
press-corrected adj. rare proofread and corrected prior to printing or publication.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > correction > [adjective] > corrected > proof-read or corrected
proofed1892
proof-read1917
press-corrected1964
1964 F. Bowers Bibliogr. & Textual Crit. v. ii. 139 Editors should choose the First Folio press-corrected reading..instead of the quarto and the uncorrected Folio reading.
1985 Mod. Philol. 82 319 The final page of the second quarto of Hamlet..finds the Oxford facsimile bearing a press-corrected signature.
press-correction n. (a) a correction made to a text during preparation for publication; (b) the act or process of correcting errors in this way.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > correction > [noun] > copy-reading or correction
press-correction1853
copy-reading1903
1853 C. Dickens Let. 25 Sept. (1993) VII. 156 I return the No. (much in want of press-corrections), and have done what I could to it.
1861 F. H. A. Scrivener Plain Introd. Crit. New Test. 143 The inferior manuscript chiefly used by Erasmus for his first edition of the N.T., with press corrections in his hand.
1964 F. Bowers Bibliogr. & Textual Crit. i. iii. 19 A brief look at some problems of press-correction will illustrate with suitably neutral examples.
1983 Rev. Eng. Stud. 34 160 The evidence so far points to Thorpe as a publisher who bought his copy directly from authors, judging by the frequency of authorial press-correction.
1998 E. J. Esche in Compl. Wks. C. Marlowe V. 293 Oliver also produces evidence of further press-corrections on three pages.
press corrector n. a person who corrects a text or type prior to printing or publication, a proofreader.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printer > readers, collators, etc. > [noun] > proof-reader
corrector1530
press corrector1644
proofreader1803
reader1808
1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 20 No man of worth..is ever likely to succeed them, except he mean to put himself to the salary of a Presse-corrector.
1843 T. Carlyle Let. 1 Apr. in Corr. Emerson & Carlyle (1964) 339 Your press-corrector can acquaint himself with the hand.
1909 P. Sheavyn Literary Profession in Elizabethan Age 101 John Foxe was a press corrector for some time while abroad, and possibly also acted in the same capacity for the printer John Day.
2002 Derby Evening Tel. (Nexis) 8 Jan. 4–5 On completing his apprenticeship, he was employed for some time as a compositor and press corrector.
Press Council n. (also with lower-case initials) an organization established to regulate a particular newspaper industry and to maintain professional standards among journalists.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > Press Council
Press Council1882
1882 Times 19 Sept. 11/7 In 1872 the [Russian] Press Council had conferred upon it the power of seizing..all books or journals condemned by the Minister of the Interior.
1947 Minutes of Evidence Royal Comm. on Press 12 Nov. 23/2 in Parl. Papers 1947–8 (Cmd. 7330) 14 533 The proposal is that there should be a Press Council, something..approximating to the General Medical Council.., and that there should be punishments and rewards instituted in order to raise and preserve the standards of professional behaviour within the newspaper profession.
1977 Evening Post (Nottingham) 27 Jan. 6/1 There would be an excellent case for reporting the newspaper to the Press Council for failing to do its duty.
2005 Irish News (Nexis) 26 Oct. 26 Legislation to set up a press council..would get a speedy passage through the Dail and Seanad.
press coverage n. the reporting of something in the press (frequently with reference to the type or extent of such reporting).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > [noun] > reporting
reportage1878
coverage1931
press coverage1933
reporteragea1936
1933 Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe 25 Jan. 4/8 This..is the first theater to boast regular press coverage.
1961 C. Willock Death in Covert iii. 71 All goes down to advertising. Whynne says we'll get it back twice over in press coverage.
2001 Independent 11 July i. 12/5 Not only will the incident do her career no harm..it might even boost her visibility, thanks to the press coverage that has extended across the country.
press cutter n. a person who takes press cuttings; a person employed by a press-cutting agency.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press-cutting agency
press-cutting agency1888
press cutter1895
1895 Times 28 June 8/5 Among the journals that have done this thing are (as I learn from the kindly Press cutters) the Bristol Mercury..and the Sheffield Independent.
1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 6 Oct. (1995) 95 C.S.L. had not long ago violently lampooned him in the Oxford Magazine, and his press-cutters miss nothing.
1994 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 6 Apr. S09 Mr. Montsinger had been a press cutter for the House of Gold Co. in Pennsauken.
press cutting n. an item cut out from a newspaper.Recorded earliest in press-cutting agency n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > written record > [noun] > other types of written record
criminal record1687
police record1773
office copy1776
geological record1811
time card1837
phylactery1855
reservation1884
press cutting1888
record1897
trace1898
swindle sheet1906
form sheet1911
Dead Sea Scrolls1949
yellow card1970
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press-cutting agency > press-cutting
exsection1812
newspaper slip1830
cutting1856
clipping1857
press clipping1881
scissoring1881
press cutting1888
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 May 11/1 A visit to a press-cutting agency... For some time an agency has been at work for supplying newspaper references—at so much per hundred cuttings or a yearly subscription.
1897 R. C. Winthrop Mem. R. C. Winthrop 52 The supply of press-cuttings did not then exist, and public men were often in ignorance of what was said of them.
1936 ‘G. Orwell’ Let. 26 Aug. in Coll. Ess. (1968) I. 228 I don't know what sort of reviews it got in France—I only saw about two..the press-cutting people didn't get them.
1993 Tablet 18 Sept. 1198/2 Is he one of those people who file press cuttings and who even, perish the thought, write down their own witticisms?
press-cutting agency n. an organization which supplies articles cut out from newspapers.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > press-cutting agency
press-cutting agency1888
press cutter1895
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 May 11/1 A visit to a press-cutting agency... For some time an agency has been at work for supplying newspaper references—at so much per hundred cuttings or a yearly subscription.
1922 A. E. Housman Let. 26 Oct. (1971) 206 The press-cutting agency sends me..more notices than I want to see.
1941 V. Nabokov Real Life Sebastian Knight xi. 102 A press-cutting agency began to pepper him with samples of praise.
2004 Guardian (Nexis) 6 Feb. 31 Edred went to Dulwich College for three years, before joining the family firm of Durrants, a press cutting agency.
press day n. (a) the day on which a periodical goes to press; (b) a day on which journalists are invited to an event, often in advance of the public opening.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > [noun] > day when journalists attend exhibitions, etc.
press day1874
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > time or day when newspaper goes to press
press day1874
press time1875
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > viewing for press
press day1874
press view1883
press show1928
1874 Davenport (Iowa) Daily Gaz. 17 Apr. Afterwards..the famous chiefs were often in the office on press days to witness the process of printing.
1883 Harper's Mag. Nov. 850/2 To do anything like justice to the subject of ‘artistic London’, one ought to..describe..an Academy dinner, a Press Day and a Private View.
1923 A. Huxley Antic Hay vii. 103 It was Press Day. The critics had begun to arrive.
1972 ‘C. Fremlin’ Appointment with Yesterday xiv. 113 The Editor ringing up, more and more irate, as press day drew near.
1994 Harper's Mag. July 35/1 Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
press digest n. a summary of press reports.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > digest of press reports
press digest1940
1940 Times 8 Feb. 3/4 Was any Government Department..issuing its own Press digest, and if so might the House have an assurance that overlapping should cease?
1977 G. Markstein Chance Awakening xxv. 76 The press digest was lying on his desk.
2001 Guardian (Nexis) 28 June 4 Its press digest, said to be extraordinarily thorough, is read by the Pope after breakfast.
press gallery n. a gallery or other area set apart for reporters, esp. in the British House of Commons; the reporters occupying this area.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] > gallery or stand for spectators
seld1598
stand1615
ventilator1822
spectatory1829
press gallery1869
bleacher1889
bleachery1909
waving-base1954
1869 Times 1 Mar. 10/1 The ticket that was destined for me in the Press Gallery.
1883 Cent. Mag. Apr. 817/2 Above and back of the chairs of the presiding officers are the ‘Press Galleries’, with adjacent telegraph offices.
1924 Amer. Mercury Dec. 491/2 I did some time in the congressional press-galleries at Washington.
1988 New Statesman 17 June 9/2 MPs came and went and the press gallery thinned to a handful.
2002 Guardian 17 May i. 2/2 A voice on the public address system in the parliamentary press gallery.
† press-girthing n. Obsolete rare (on a hand-operated printing press) a leather belt which moves the bed back and forth.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. Press-girthing, the belt of leather which moves the bed of a hand-press to and from impression.
press handout n. = press release n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > release
release1907
news release1918
press release1921
press handout1932
1932 Chicago Tribune 7 Oct. 14/1 A lot of Hollywood passes through Chicago, the town having the hobo sign on its gate post as being good for photographs and a press handout.
1991 L. Barber Mostly Men p. x Interviews..got shorter and lazier and were so manipulated by PRs that they were often indistinguishable from press handouts.
press junket n. originally U.S. a party or other event held for journalists in order to publicize a new film, typically attended by the film's stars.
ΚΠ
1939 Los Angeles Times 16 Apr. iii. 3/5 Paramount will present no pretty compliments to either 20th Century Fox or Warner Brothers by making their little tour into a press junket like the others did.
2002 Times 4 Apr. ii. 14/4 At the press junkets it sells his films.
press kit n. a pack of information or publicity material provided for journalists; cf. press pack at pack n.1 3c.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > release > document or dossier
handout1913
press kit1954
1954 Statesville (N. Carolina) Daily Record 29 Jan. p2/4 The publicity staff entered with tons of mimeograph paper,..press kits, a Western Union man and boxes of pencils.
1977 New Yorker 3 Oct. 36/2 Our advance word on this event [sc. the publication of a new encyclopaedia] came to us in the form of a fat press kit, stuffed with fact sheets and kind words about the work.
2002 Dirty Linen Oct.–Nov. 9/2 I had asked him..about his Chinese zodiac sign. (An old press kit had revealed that Grammar was an ‘earth monkey’.)
press law n. any law concerned with the licensing or regulation of printing or publishing, esp. with regard to the newspaper industry.
ΚΠ
1828 Times 28 Aug. 2/3 Refusing to satisfy the Government upon this point, and referring them in justification to their own press law.
1900 S. M. Macvane tr. C. Seignobos Polit. Hist. Europe since 1814 v. 123 They passed a press law..which maintained the principle of previous authorization for newspapers, and the government right to suspend the publication.
1992 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 8 Oct. 56/2 The USSR Supreme Soviet passed the historic Press Law [in 1990] freeing the Soviet press from the censor for the first time.
press matter n. material printed or to be printed in a newspaper or journal.
ΚΠ
1852 A. Jones Hist. Sketch Electric Telegraph 104 The rates for press-matter on this line are as follows.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker iii. 51 Very few youths of your age occupy nearly two columns of press-matter all to themselves.
1928 F. W. Toppan in W. B. Graves Readings in Public Opinion xv. 539 The amount of material received..constitutes sixty to seventy-five percent of all the foreign press matter.
2000 Ventura County (Calif.) Star (Nexis) 17 Apr. b7 Significant, often sensational, information could be publicly available at varied government offices but not sent out as press matter.
press night n. (a) an evening on which journalists are invited or permitted to attend an event, esp. a performance of a play or other theatrical work; (b) the night on which a periodical goes to press.The press night of a theatrical production is frequently also the official opening night of its run.
ΚΠ
1838 J. Gillman Life S. T. Coleridge I. 207 The gallery of the house [of Commons] on a press night, when a man can scarcely find elbow room.
1861 Sydney Morning Herald 14 Jan. 5/3 On Press nights..Mr. Lee returns to the office, if the usual Press telegrams have not come to hand.
1888 Stage 7 Dec. 8/4 When Sweet Lavender was brought out at Terry's Theatre..a second press night was unavoidable.
1913 C. E. Whelan Bascom Clarke xx. 165 ‘Press night’..the night before the day on which the paper was dated, was a busy time.
1994 S. Rushdie East, West (1995) 125 It was the paper's press night, so Lucy was late getting home.
2010 J. Caird Theatre Craft 550 Previews are performances that are played to a paying audience in advance of the press night or official opening night.
press notice n. a review in a newspaper or other periodical.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > journal > matter of or for journals > [noun] > article > review
review1649
review article1807
notice1835
press notice1852
1852 U.S. Democratic Rev. Jan. 80/2 Are our remonstrances to be always silenced, by the overwhelming arguments furnished by press notices?
1888 ‘M. Twain’ Let. 1 Oct. in C. Clemens Mark Twain (1932) iii. 49 I thank you ever so much for not forgetting to remember to send me the press notice.
1929 H. J. Savage & H. W. Bentley Amer. College Athletics x. 230 One schoolboy..had an especially favorable press notice mimeographed from a local paper with some of its comments underscored.
1977 J. Aiken Last Movement i. 37 ‘What about your opening?’.. ‘Big success. I'll show you our press notices.’
2004 Biloxi (Mississippi) Sun Herald (Nexis) 19 Feb. 33 It has already received glowing press notices, including a five star review in Mojo.
press number n. a number at the foot of each page of an early printed book showing on which press or by which printer the page was printed.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printers' symbols and directions > [noun] > number showing press or printer
press number1895
1895 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. II. Press-number.
1931 M. B. Stillwell Incunabula & Americana, 1450–1800 i. ii. 31 The Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke..holds to both schools, giving first the press number of the type according to Haebler's enumeration, and then the twenty-line measurement in millimeters.
1961 T. Landau Encycl. Librarianship (ed. 2) 283/2 Press number, small figures which in books printed between 1680 and c. 1823 often appear at the foot of a page, sometimes twice in a gathering. The figures indicate on which press in the printer's workshop the sheet was printed or perhaps the identity of the worker.
press office n. an office within a government department or other organization responsible for dealing with the press.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > release > specific organization's office for
Press Bureau1856
press office1873
1873 Times 10 Dec. 7/3 For something like 20 years a Government Press Office..has existed at Berlin.
1937 L. Hellman Diary 17 Oct. in Unfinished Woman (1969) viii. 87 I have been to the Press Office [in Valencia]..and paid a visit to Rubio, the Press Chief.
1999 Gay Times May 72/1 This came as news to the Beeb's mighty press office.
press people n. †(a) people who operate printing presses, printers (obsolete); (b) newspaper journalists, reporters, members of the press.
ΚΠ
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott III. 45 The MS. had been transcribed by one of the Ballantynes themselves, in order to guard against any indiscretion of the press-people.
1846 Britannia 24 Jan. 55/3 One of those abominable words which second and third rate press people are continually thrusting into our language.
1886 St. Joseph (Mich.) Herald 26 June At 4 p.m. the press people..went on a lake excursion.
1946 F. Eldridge Wrath in Burma iv. 134 They were still fighting the road when Mountbatten's press people started to maneuver the publicity.
1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 28 June 43/1 A red-and-green 707, filled with Red Cross workers, about a dozen press people and the 30 tons of supplies, landed in Vientiane, Laos.
press person n. a newspaper journalist, a reporter, a member of the press; now chiefly Indian English, frequently as one word and with plural presspersons.
ΚΠ
1919 Manitoba Free Press 11 Jan. 13/5 Press persons who have ‘never spoken to her’ have been saying nice things about her.
1991 Independent (Bombay) 6 Dec. 5/6 Why did it not occur to presspersons to ask him directly whether he had been tortured, or whether he had broken down or wept?
2001 Hindu (Nexis) 20 June The Prime Minister greeted the presspersons with a ‘namaskar’ and a broad smile.
press proof n. the final proof to be examined before a text goes to press.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printed matter > [noun] > proof > last proof
press proof1841
press-revise1888
machine proof1951
1841 W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing 597 Press proof, a good impression of a sheet of a work, or of a job, to read it carefully by, and to mark the errors, previous to its being put to press.
1861 Times 9 Feb. 2/4 (advt.) A young man..would be glad to undertake..the reading of press proofs.
1939 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 80 6 These press proofs resemble cheap printing in which some areas on the page appear too black.
2003 Publishers Weekly (Nexis) 27 Oct. 10 A customer offsite can view what the press proof looks like while it's being adjusted.
press release n. an official statement issued to the media giving information on a particular matter.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > release
release1907
news release1918
press release1921
press handout1932
1921 Amer. Econ. Rev. 11 29 The press releases of the American Friends' Service Committee..give a sober yet convincing picture of the conditions during both 1920 and 1921.
1964 W. Markfield To Early Grave (1965) ii. 29 He sent out press releases, and the Brooklyn Eagle ran a small story.
2001 C. Gordon Grim Pig xi. 93 When the press release landed on the city desk, he took it to the managing editor, who took it to Fred, who called a meeting on how the story would be covered.
press-revise n. rare = press proof n.; cf. revise n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printed matter > [noun] > proof > last proof
press proof1841
press-revise1888
machine proof1951
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 103 Press revise, the final proof for press or machine.
1928 M. D. Orcutt Master Makers of Bk. vii. 194 The press revise is compared and re-read with great care.
1960 G. A. Glaister Gloss. Bk. 324/1 Press revise, an extra proof from the corrected type when ready for machining.
press run n. the number of copies of a newspaper, etc., produced in a continuous session of printing; = run n.2 47c; (also) a continuous session of printing.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [noun] > run of press
impression1570
press run1907
split run1961
society > communication > printing > printed matter > [noun] > amount printed > amount printed at one time
edition?a1475
impression1570
run1878
printing1902
press run1907
print run1931
run-off1952
split run1961
1907 Coshocton (Ohio) Daily Age 22 Mar. 1/2 The demands of the public for news concerning the sad drowning of John Hahn and the latest of the Bordenkircher case, necessitated a press run of 3029 papers.
1967 R. R. Karch & E. J. Buber Graphic Arts Procedures: Offset Processes ix. 446 Long press runs with a single plate are possible because the offset plate does not touch the paper.
1993 A. B. Brook Hard Way iv. 22 The stands were sold out by Sunday, so we boldly raised next week's pressrun by 50 copies.
press secretary n. a person employed to manage publicity and public relations, esp. for a government official or organization.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > advertising > business of advertising > [noun] > activities of press agents > press or publicity agent
press agent1814
press secretary1880
publicist1904
press officer1915
publicitor1935
flack1946
huckster1946
flackman1966
promo man1977
1880 Times 11 June 5/1 A periodical the relations of which to the Chancellor, through his previous Press Secretary, Dr. Busch, are well known.
1959 J. Ludwig in Tamarack Rev. Summer 20 Eisenhower with that puzzled look which meant if his press secretary didn't say something fast he was a goner.
1996 Daily Tel. 25 Jan. 3/2 Before the Princess announced her withdrawal from public life, her team included a private secretary, a press secretary, an equerry..and a rota of ladies-in-waiting.
press show n. a performance given for the press, esp. a showing of a film to an audience of journalists, before general release.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > viewing for press
press day1874
press view1883
press show1928
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > film show > [noun] > preview
trade show1913
roadshowing1923
press show1928
sneak preview1938
sneak1941
1928 Times 28 Feb. 14/3 At the Press show yesterday many of the stands were in an unfinished state.
1961 John o' London's 15 June 671/1 A hard-boiled press-show audience.
2000 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) June 76/1 For the first half of the interminable evening she watches the press show.
press-show v. (transitive) to give a showing of (a film) for journalists.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > make news available [verb (transitive)] > give press show
press-show1958
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > film show > show [verb (transitive)] > before general release
trade-show1919
sneak-preview1950
press-show1958
1958 Vogue July 44/1 American horrors..are never press-shown, and are a disappointment to connoisseurs.
2003 Daily Post (Liverpool) (Nexis) 3 Jan. 20 Not all films get press-shown locally.
press-shy adj. unwilling to speak to, appear in, or be covered by the press; cf. media-shy adj. at media n.2 Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1921 Los Angeles Times 25 Jan. ii. 2/1 Trainer Bothner went on to enumerate, asking me to withhold the names on the chance some of his patrons might prove press-shy.
1994 W. Shaw Spying in Guru Land (1995) ii. 49 The Emin are press shy. They know they will be misunderstood.
press stand n. a section of the spectators' area at a sporting event which is reserved for reporters.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > places reserved for journalists
press table1843
press room1869
press boat1870
press box1876
press stand1888
1888 Times 24 Sept. 12/3 Bowden judged the catch to perfection and made it close to the boundary under the Press Stand.
1937 E. Rickman On & off Racecourse vi. 137 He would usually watch the racing from the press-stand.
2003 Africa News (Nexis) 18 Nov. As I watched from that poor press stand at the Accra Stadium, I wondered what could become of the young men who were breaking their sweat for the nation.
† press stone n. Obsolete the bed or base of a printing press.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printing machine or press > parts of printers or presses > [noun] > bed
press stone1683
bed1846
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 68 The Press-Stone should be Marble, though sometimes Master Printers make shift with Purbeck.
1747 R. Campbell London Tradesman xxv. 122 Another Form, which contains the Pages for the other Side, is laid upon the Press Stone, and printed off in the same Manner as before.
press table n. a table reserved for journalists.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > places reserved for journalists
press table1843
press room1869
press boat1870
press box1876
press stand1888
1843 Times 25 Oct. 5/6 The reporters' entrance..from the darkness into the space allotted for the press tables.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xv. [Circe] 438 From the presstable, coughs and calls.
1974 F. Nolan Oshawa Project i. 1 By the time the speeches started, the general was drunk... Every correspondent at the press table..could see the signs.
2002 Irish Times (Nexis) 21 Sept. 17 The journalists at the press table in the council meetings could hear him very clearly.
press time n. the time at which a newspaper or other periodical goes to press.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > working practices and conditions > [noun] > time or day when newspaper goes to press
press day1874
press time1875
1875 Oakland (Calif.) Daily Evening Tribune 19 Nov. We think that's the quotation, but its near press time and we haven't time to verify it.
1927 S. Bent Ballyhoo ix. 240 There is a glut of space to be filled in advance of news press-time, and..it must be filled with bait which will give the paper ‘attention value’.
1995 Desktop Publishers Jrnl. July 64/1 QuarkXPosure, the big unknown at presstime, is slated for release before the end of the year.
press tradition n. a handing down of culture, information, etc., in print, esp. that particular to a specific period or region.
ΚΠ
1675 J. Smith Christian Relig. Appeal i. 16 Conveyed down to us in the same way of pen or press-tradition that other writings are.
1968 Times 7 Oct. 14/4 The Latin American countries received no healthy independent press traditions from Spain or Portugal.
2000 Mideast Mirror (Nexis) 20 Dec. Since 1963, banned political groups [in Syria] have produced a vast illegal literature on internal conditions, amounting to a press tradition in itself.
press view n. an opening of an exhibition to journalists before it is open to the general public.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > journalism > supply of news or newspapers > [noun] > viewing for press
press day1874
press view1883
press show1928
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > exposure to public view > an exhibition > [noun] > private or press view
private view1706
private viewing1850
press view1883
1883 Times 17 Feb. 12/1 There was to-day a Press view of the 57th Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy, which will be opened to the public on Saturday.
1929 R. Fry Let. 27 Dec. (1972) II. 646 I may be able to wangle you one [ticket] for the Press view on Monday.
2002 Guardian (Nexis) 23 Mar. 11 The only child at the press view yesterday, 11-year-old Finn, said: ‘I think it's really interesting.’
press-view v. rare (transitive) to see (an exhibition, etc.) at a press view.
ΚΠ
1890 Star 2 May 2/3 I have been at the Royal Academy all-day, ‘Press-viewing’ it.
c. (In sense 11b.)
press sail n. [origin uncertain; perhaps < press v.1 + sail n.1] Nautical (now historical). = press of sail at sense 11b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > [noun] > as much sail as ship will carry
press sail1592
press of sail1751
pressing sail1774
pressure of canvas1823
1592 T. Nashe Strange Newes sig. G4 I my self..make my stile carry a presse saile.
a1643 W. Monson Naval Tracts iii, in A. Churchill & J. Churchill Coll. Voy. (1704) III. 331/2 Keeping the Sea..with a contrary Wind, foul Weather, and a press Sail.
1726 N. Uring Hist. Voy. & Trav. 94 In about two Hours, by carrying a Press Sail, and having a Head Sea, we had the Misfortune to spring our Main Top-Mast.
1919 Lima (Ohio) Times-Democrat 21 July 8/3 Bluewater..bore down on the triumphant French under a press sail..and wrested victory from defeat.
d. (In sense 11e.)
press iron n. = pressing iron n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing > ironing or pressing implements
pressing iron1343
cold press1552
setting-stick?1578
putter1583
putting stick1583
poking-stick1592
pooter1596
poting stick1600
poker1604
goose1606
poking-iron?1606
iron1613
smoothing-iron1627
steel1638
box iron1640
smoothing-boxa1684
press iron1695
ironing board1721
sad iron1759
ironing blanket1774
ironing table1778
flat-iron1810
sleeve-board1826
ironer1833
Italian iron1833
press-board1849
ironing machine1851
goffering-iron1861
skirt-board1861
goffer1865
trouser press1880
ironing board cover1886
trouser presser1888
electric iron1890
press cloth1918
press-pad1924
tie press1926
steam-iron1951
pressing board1969
1695 in N. W. Alcock People at Home (1993) v. 85 In the said chamber, a chest & a presse iron.
1892 I. Zangwill Children of Ghetto I. 45 He taught them how to handle a press-iron.
1960 O. Awolowo Awo iv. 48 My Sunday wear was pressed by me with a press iron borrowed from neighbours.
2000 Amer. Jewish Hist. (Nexis) 1 Dec. 475 His father, who stood all day over a steaming press-iron returned home covered with blisters.
press line n. a crease made by an iron.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing > crease or mark made by
press mark1946
press line1947
1947 C. Talbot Compl. Bk. Sewing xxxi. 208/1 Remove the sharp line by moving the seam back and pressing the sleeve under the seam, removing the press lines from the sleeve.
1997 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 13 Feb. 6 Machine stitch from the pin mark to the corner (where the two presslines cross over) and your mitred corner is done.
press-pad n. a soft pad on which a fabric or garment is placed to be pressed (now esp. in a pressing machine).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > pressing or ironing > ironing or pressing implements
pressing iron1343
cold press1552
setting-stick?1578
putter1583
putting stick1583
poking-stick1592
pooter1596
poting stick1600
poker1604
goose1606
poking-iron?1606
iron1613
smoothing-iron1627
steel1638
box iron1640
smoothing-boxa1684
press iron1695
ironing board1721
sad iron1759
ironing blanket1774
ironing table1778
flat-iron1810
sleeve-board1826
ironer1833
Italian iron1833
press-board1849
ironing machine1851
goffering-iron1861
skirt-board1861
goffer1865
trouser press1880
ironing board cover1886
trouser presser1888
electric iron1890
press cloth1918
press-pad1924
tie press1926
steam-iron1951
pressing board1969
1924 W. D. F. Vincent Cutters' Pract. Guide Overcoats 73/1 A good plan when damping fronts, lapels and collar is to damp through a double piece of cloth from the back, the silk being face down on the soft cloth press-pad.
1996 Adweek (U.S.) (Nexis) 29 Jan. A case involving drycleaning presspads..will spark fresh interest among marketers in the use of color as a trademark for their brands.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† pressn.2

Forms: late Middle English prest, 1600s–1700s press, 1600s–1700s presse.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a borrowing from Latin Etymon: Latin prestula.
Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps shortened < post-classical Latin prestula small piece of parchment, bearing a seal, appended to a document (1383), of uncertain origin; compare -ula suffix. In later use (in forms press , presse ) apparently associated with press v.1
Obsolete.
A sheet of parchment.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > skin (vellum or parchment) > [noun] > parchment > piece of
skin of parchment1340
parchmenta1350
parchment skinc1390
press1405
panel1628
1405 Will of Robert Bullok (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/2A) f. 84 (MED) My wille as it ys wryten in a prest of parchemyne.
1620 in P. Beale In Praise of Scribes (1998) iii. 71 For engrossing transcripts of wills 18 d for every press of parchment 24 inches long and 5 inches wide.
1658 Practick Part of Law 232 Fees..For the transcript of a Record, being a presse, 6s. 8d. For every presse more 6s. 8d.
1705 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) V. 520 Yesterday the lords read..the commons bill for relief of the poor, containing 60 presses of parchment.
1794 W. Tidd Pract. of Court of King's Bench II. xxxvii. 534 The record of nisi prius..is to be fairly engrossed, on a press or skin of parchment.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020).

pressn.3

Brit. /prɛs/, U.S. /prɛs/
Forms: 1500s–1600s presse, 1600s press.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: press v.2
Etymology: < press v.2 Compare earlier prest n. 5, and also press money n., impress n.2
1.
a. The impressing of men for service in the navy or (less frequently) the army; compulsory enlistment. Cf. impress n.2, impressment n.2 Now historical.In quot. ?1592 perhaps : a crowd (= press n.1 5a).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > [noun] > compulsory
pressing1591
press?1592
impress1603
imprest1610
impressing1641
draft1757
conscription1799
press-ganging1863
blood tax1890
call-up1916
comb1916
?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda sig. C2 A common presse of base superfluous Turkes, May soon be leuied.
1599 J. Minsheu Percyvall's Dict. Spanish & Eng. at Léva A presse or taking vp men for the war.
1615 R. Kayll Trade's Increase 33 The generall presse that was made of men from all the coasts to man the ships.
1667 London Gaz. No. 154/2 The Press for Seamen is great, and several Captains are imployed to raise men both in Denmark and Lubec.
1676 I. Mather Hist. King Philip's War (1862) 139 At Boston there is a Press in order to sending forth another Army to pursue the enemy.
1754 D. Hume Hist. Great Brit. I. 113 An English army of 12,000 foot and 200 horse was levied by a general press thro'out the kingdom.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lix. 270 With regard to the press for seamen..bounties..have a limit.
1793 H. Nelson Let. 10 Feb. in Dispatches & Lett. (1844) I. 299 I have only got a few men.., and without a press I have no idea our Fleet can be manned.
1803 Naval Chron. 9 328 There was a very hot press last night throughout Plymouth.
1894 C. N. Robinson Brit. Fleet 413 The ‘Press’ does..derive its name..from the ‘prest’ or ‘imprest’ money paid to the man on entry as an earnest of his wages on enlisting in the King's service.
1960 J. S. Watson Reign of George III xviii. 472 Any English-speaking, able-bodied, man on leave in a port might find himself swept up in the press.
2005 Canad. Jrnl. Hist. (Nexis) 40 107 It [sc. impressment] was constrained in practice..by the widespread use of ‘protections’ against the press.
†b. A warrant or commission giving authority to press men into military service. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > [noun] > military warrant > spec
libranza1598
press1598
press warranta1687
safeguard1706
T.S.1944
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. ii. 13 I haue misused the kinges presse damnablie. I haue got in exchange of 150. soldiours 300. and odde poundes.
1669 J. Dryden Wild Gallant 2nd Epil. They shrink like Seamen when a Press comes out.
†c. Money paid to a sailor or soldier on enlistment; = press money n. 3. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > [noun] > money given to recruit
press money1523
pressa1630
queen's shilling1707
a1630 Faithful Friends (1975) i. ii. 19 Marc. Hold thee heers gold, furnish thy selfe with speede... These shall along with vs too, receive your press.
†2. In extended use. Impressment into service of any kind; a requisition. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > [noun] > by (public) authority > for public service
purveyance1423
purveying1442
imprest1610
impressure1680
impressment1796
requisitionc1806
press1855
commandeering1894
1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety viii. 233 Though it hath too many voluntiers, yet sure 'tis this press that helps to make up its numbers.
1670 J. Eachard Grounds Contempt of Clergy 119 If Men..have a phansie against a Living of Twenty or Thirty Pounds a year: There is no way to get them into such an undertaking, but by sending out a spiritual Press.
1855 W. Sargent Braddock's Exped. 166 To be reminded that such things as a Press of private means for the benefit of the State still existed.
1894 Daily News 25 July 5/6 The Central Government [of China] has placed an emergency press upon the fleet of the China Merchants Company to be taken when necessary for transport of troops.

Compounds

attributive. Of or relating to a press, used for a press; spec. designating a vessel employed in impressment, as press-boat, press-ketch, press-smack, etc. Now historical.
ΚΠ
1688 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 457 The next day the presse boats went down the river to presse seamen.
1696 London Gaz. No. 3164/1 On Board any of His Majesty's Ships of War, or Hire-Ships, or on any Press-Vessels, or Tenders.
1702 Flying Post Apr. 4/7 Some Press-Ketches in that [Dublin] Harbour have pressed 400 Seamen within a few Days, and..a great many are voluntarily come in.
1723 D. Defoe Hist. Col. Jack (ed. 2) 3 Every Tarpawlin if he gets but to be Lieutenant of a Press-Smack is call'd Captain.
1757 M. Postlethwayt Great Britain's True Syst. ii. 46 These Measures would..save the Nation many Thousands a Year, that are now spent by Press-gangs, Press-Ketches, and in Provisions and Wages to keep Men on board Ships.
1787 R. Alderson True Alarm! 17 A scene commenced not unlike that which is occasioned by the issuing of a press warrant in a sea-port at the first breaking out of war.
1850–9 J. H. Ingraham Arrow of Gold viii. 53 It was then a press-boat I must have got on board of.
1959 P. O'Brian Unknown Shore iii. 64 He hoped he had a right, to expect Mr. Penn, when in command of the press smack, to bring back something better than crippled half-wits.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

† pressadj.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymon: Latin pressus.
Etymology: < classical Latin pressus compressed, compact, (of style) moderate, restrained, use as adjective of past participle of premere to press (see press v.1). Compare earlier pressly adv.
Obsolete.
Chiefly of language or mode of expression: precise, exact in detail.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective]
rightOE
namely?c1225
lealc1330
very1338
truec1400
justc1425
exquisite1541
precise?a1560
jump1581
accuratea1599
nice1600
refined1607
punctual1608
press?1611
square1632
exact1645
unerring1665
proper1694
correct1705
pointed1724
prig1776
precisivea1805
as right as a trivet1835
spot on1936
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adjective]
compendious1388
briefc1430
short1487
short and sweet1545
curted1568
summarc1575
laconical1576
summary1582
succinct1585
totala1586
laconic1589
concisec1590
compendiary1609
press?1611
curt1631
Spartan1644
nutshell1647
severe1680
Lacedaemonian1780
straightforward1806
uncircumlocutory1808
shorthand1822
Spartanlike1838
unwordy1841
nutshelly1843
tight1870
Spartanic1882
unfarced1890
serried1899
taut1916
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail > characterized by scrupulous care > strict, careful, or detailed
narroweOE
searchinga1555
strict1598
scrutinous1599
press?1611
close1662
minutea1697
near-sighted1828
?1611 G. Chapman in tr. Homer Iliads xiv. Comm. 199 Homers maner of writing..is so presse, and puts on with so strong a current, that it farre ouer-runnes the most laborious pursuer.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 432 There is a double acception of the word Caput among Physitions, one strickt & presse, another large and ample.
1661 G. Rust Let. conc. Origen in Phœnix (1721) I. 33 They observe not those terms and conditions, being drawn away from a press and careful attendance to them.
1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 329 Of which persuasion [that the World should have End by Fire]..were all the Stoicks; Seneca is press and full, At illo tempore, solutis Legibus, fine modo fertur [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2020).

pressv.1

Brit. /prɛs/, U.S. /prɛs/
Inflections: Past tense and past participle pressed, (chiefly archaic) prest, presst;
Forms:

α. Middle English–1600s presse, Middle English– prest (past tense and past participle, now archaic), 1500s– press; English regional (Cumberland) 1800s prist (past tense), 1800s– pruss; N.E.D. (1908) also records a form Middle English yprast (past participle).

β. Middle English prece, Middle English preece, Middle English prees, Middle English preese, Middle English preesse, Middle English preise, Middle English preyse, Middle English–1500s pres, Middle English–1600s praise, Middle English–1600s prease, Middle English–1600s prese, 1500s preasse, 1500s–1600s preace, 1500s–1600s preast (past tense and past participle); Scottish pre-1700 prace, pre-1700 prais, pre-1700 preas, pre-1700 prease, pre-1700 preass, pre-1700 preasse, pre-1700 prece, pre-1700 preis, pre-1700 preise, pre-1700 preishe, pre-1700 preiss, pre-1700 pres, pre-1700 prese, pre-1700 preys, pre-1700 prise, pre-1700 prysied (past tense), 1800s preest, 1900s– preese; English regional (northern) 1600s preaze, 1700s– prease, 1800s– preese, 1800s– preeze, 1800s– preezt (past participle); N.E.D.(1908) also records a form late Middle English preace.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: press n.1; French presser; Latin pressāre.
Etymology: Partly < press n.1 (with β forms compare the β forms at that entry and Old French regional (Picardy) preser, (Hainault) prieser, prieser, variants of presser: see below), and partly < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French presser (French presser) to torment, torture (c1160 in Old French), to squeeze for juice or oil (originally especially grapes and olives) (end of the 12th cent. in Old French), to put under pressure, harass (c1185 in Old French), to crowd (c1200 in Old French, used reflexively; c1243 in Old French, used intransitively), to endeavour, strive (1350 in an apparently isolated attestation, used intransitively), to compress (1540), to cause to make haste (1552; 1538 as present participle used as adjective: pressant urgent), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin pressāre to exert pressure on, to weigh down, to press together, squeeze, to suppress (an emotion), frequentative formation < premere to press, to crowd or throng round, to apply pressure to, to compress, to squeeze, to extract by exerting pressure, to push, propel, to grip tight, to press in an embrace, to impress, imprint, to weigh down, burden, to afflict, to oppress, overpower, to harrass, attack, to press (a person) hard in debate, to urge (a point) in argument, to urge to action, in post-classical Latin also to print (1520 in a British source; from a1523 in continental sources). Compare Old Occitan premsar to put pressure on (13th cent.), prensar, probably ‘to squeeze, wring out’ (late 13th cent.), pressar to flatten, compress (1326; Occitan premsar, prensar to press, squeeze; also se pressar to hasten), Catalan prensar, premsar (c1400), pressar (1617), Spanish prensar (1495), Italian pressare (a1400), all in sense ‘to put in a press, apply pressure, squeeze’; also Middle Low German persen, pressen to sqeeze, to extract juice or oil, to flatten textiles, to torture, Old High German pressōn to squeeze, to extract juice or oil, compress (Middle High German pressen, German pressen), Old Icelandic pressa to press, Old Swedish prässa to squeeze, compress (Swedish pressa).The β forms indicate the existence of a variant with a long vowel, as do the β forms at press n.1 However, rhyme evidence makes it clear that there was not always an exact correspondence between the spelling and the vowel quantity. Additionally, the frequent spelling pres is ambiguous; it is here placed among the β forms whenever it occurs, although it is very likely that in many particular instances it represented a pronunciation with a short vowel. The origin of the variation in form has been variously explained: see e.g. R. Jordan Handb. der mittelenglischen Grammatik (1934) §222, §225, A. J. Bliss ‘Vowel-Quantity in Middle English Borrowings from Anglo-Norman’ in Archivum Linguisticum 5 (1953) §46, E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §8. The distribution of the forms seems to some extent to show a semantic distinction, β forms apparently being more common in the senses at branches II. and III. than in the senses at branch I., although this is apparently no more than a tendency; compare also discussion at press n.1 With sense 13b compare Middle French, French le temps presse (1557) and similar expressions. In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). As classical Latin premere and pressāre and their Romance descendants are chiefly transitive (although there are occasional instances of intransitive use of classical Latin premere as well as in Old French and Middle French in senses with parallels in English: see above), the intransitive use appears to have been largely developed within English, perhaps in connection with the notion of people pressing or crowding upon one another.
I. Senses related to the physical exertion of pressure.
1.
a. transitive. To act on (an object) with continuous force directed towards it by means of physical contact; to exert a steady force against (something touched) by weight, a fingertip, etc.; to subject to pressure; (also) †to crush.See also to press the button at button n. 4c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [verb (transitive)] > exert pressure on
i-thrastc900
crowdOE
pressc1330
to bear down1440
impress1598
lean1736
α.
c1330 Short Metrical Chron. (Auch.) 413 in PMLA (1931) 46 122 Cornius he prest so fast. Þat to ribbes in his side to brast.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xix. 13 Eche þat touchiþ þe hyll with deþ schall dye; hondis schal not touchen hym bot with stones he schall be pressid down.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 56 He [sc. the stomach] is euelong, for he schulde not presse [L. comprimeret] & þurste þe spiritual membres by to greet roundnes.
c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in MS Wellcome 564 f. 125 (MED) If ony rotynge be wiþinne, engendrid, presse þe wounde wiþ a litil weke.
1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes f. xv, in Bulwarke of Defence The apostumacion of blood, hath greate swellyng and heate, ouer all the body,..also hardnes, if you presse it with your finger.
1656 tr. T. Hobbes Elements Philos. iii. xv. 155 Of two moved Bodies one Presses the other, when with its Endeavour it makes either all or part of the other Body to go out of its place.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 307 Least his Weight pressing it cause the un-dryed Inck to Set-off.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Saddle The Toes or Points of the Saddle's Fore-bow press too much the Horse's Side.
1820 P. B. Shelley Sensitive Plant in Prometheus Unbound 164 Her step seemed to pity the grass it prest.
1839 G. Bird Elements Nat. Philos. 341 The plane glass against which it is pressed.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 51 A centre seconds hand..which may be started..by pressing either the pendant or a knob at the side of it.
1921 Blackwood's Mag. June 739/2 Pressing the bell-push to call the steward.
1968 B. Hines Kestrel for Knave 180 Billy ran down the path, round to the kitchen door and pressed the handle.
1980 G. Lord Fortress xvi. 131 He pressed one of the triggers of his gun.
2005 I. McEwan Saturday ii. 74 Attached to his key ring is an infrared button which he presses to raise a clattering steel shutter.
β. 1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 263 Bot rysand he wes preist Quhill þat he oistit at bath þe endis.c1598 King James VI & I Basilicon Doron (1944) I. 144 Learning is a licht burdein the uecht quhairof uill neuer preasse youre schoulderis.
b. intransitive. To exert pressure; to bear with weight or force on, upon, or against.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > force > [verb (intransitive)] > exert pressure
pressa1400
bear1581
gravitate1644
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 317 (MED) Sette þi fyngris vpon þe place & grope softli & presse a litil vp & doun.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xvii. 129 The Air having more room..does less potently press upon the subjacent Mercury.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Renitency, is that Resistence which there is in solid Bodies when they press upon, or are impelled one against another.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 190 All fluids endeavour to preserve their level; and..a body pressing on the surface, tended to destroy that level.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 232 To make the surfaces intended to be in contact, press against each other simultaneously and uniformly in every part.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville III. 240 The heavy buffalo..are easily overtaken by the Blackfeet; whose fleet steps press lightly on the surface.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 88 Since air possesses weight, it necessarily presses upon any object exposed to its influence.
1901 F. T. Addyman tr. A. M. Villon Pract. Treat. Leather Industry 137 The object of handling is to give body to the plumped skin, so that it may be able to support the weight which will press upon it in the layer-pit.
1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) xxviii. 471 The herniated part may press on the nerve roots.
1975 D. Nobbs Fall & Rise of R. Perrin (1976) 88 He pressed too hard as he dried one of her mother's best sherry glasses, and it broke in his hands.
2002 I. Knight Don't you want Me? xiv. 195 ‘Whatchou drinkin'?’ Adrian asks, his thigh pressing against mine.
c. transitive. To torture or execute (a person) by means of peine forte et dure. Frequently in to press to death. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > torture > [verb (transitive)] > press (to death)
pressc1400
wringa1529
cramp?1554
impress1651
α.
c1480 (a1400) St. Euphemia l. 165 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 422 Betweine four stanis [he] gert hir lay, & pressit hir, to do hir pyne, as men dois grappis of þe wyne.
1526 R. Whitford tr. Martiloge 103 Saynt Eufemia..was after longe & harde prison..pressed wt grete knotty rough stones..scourged..wt thorny busshes tyll the skyn was rent.
1531 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student (new ed.) xli. f. cv He shall be pressyd to dethe.
1604 G. Dugdale True Disc. Pract. E. Caldwell sig. B3 According to the Law, he was adiudged to be prest, receiuing his iudgement on the Saturday, to be executed on Munday following.
1675 Three Inhumane Murthers 6 The same day he was pressed, being very willing to dye.
1771 Ann. Reg. 1770 129/2 Conoway at first refused to plead, but being taken down and shewn the apparatus for pressing him to death, if he refused, he relented.
1839 W. H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard iii. ix The Press Room..obtained its name from an immense wooden machine kept in it, with which such prisoners as refused to plead to their indictments were pressed to death.
1884 Cent. Mag. Nov. 114/1 A man pressed to death for refusing to plead..excited less sympathy than is now felt for a galled horse or an over-driven ox.
1923 Musical Times 64 622/1 She was condemned..to be pressed to death, for having harboured a Roman Catholic priest.
2002 M. Fulbrook Hist. Theory vi. 98 In Salem, New England, in 1692, nineteen individuals were hanged and one was pressed to death for witchcraft.
β. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 1249 (MED) Prestes and prelates þay presed to deþe.
d. transitive. To squeeze or hold (a person, a person's hand, etc.) as a sign of affection; to hold lovingly to or against oneself. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > caress [verb (transitive)] > press or squeeze the hand as gesture of affection
wringa1535
press1684
squeeze1688
1684 A. Behn Poems 49 He'd press my hand, and kiss it oft.
1693 J. Dryden tr. Homer Iliad vi, in Examen Poeticum 467 She..press'd Th' Illustrious Infant to her fragrant Breast.
1741 H. Fielding Shamela vi He steals his Hand into my Bosom, which I, as if in my Sleep press close to me with mine, and then pretend to awake.
1780 W. Cowper Doves 26 'Tis then I feel myself a wife, And press thy wedded side.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 93 The minstrel's hand he kindly pressed.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Miller's Daughter (rev. ed.) in Poems (new ed.) I. 110 She..rose, and,..press'd you heart to heart.
1887 H. S. Cunningham Cœruleans II. 226 He pressed her to his heart.
1909 G. Stein Three Lives 131 Then she took his hand between her two and pressed it hard.
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xiv. 249 He..took her in his arms, pressing her against his body.
1975 H. Duncan Treehouse i. 25 Her mother pressed herself against his coat.
1997 Gallop! Jan. 25/1 He has pressed your little hand between his manly paws.
e. transitive to press (the) flesh (chiefly U.S. colloquial): to shake hands; to greet by physical contact. Now esp. in reference to people campaigning for political office.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use formal courtesy in act or expression [verb (intransitive)] > greet > shake hands
handshake1878
to shake1891
to press (the) flesh1918
1918 J. M. Grider Diary 17 May in War Birds (1927) 148 I have pressed the flesh of royalty now. My hand has gotten accustomed to the grasp of nobility.
1933 A. E. W. Mason Sapphire ii. 16 ‘Press the flesh,’ said I, extending my hand.
1975 W. Safire Before Fall vi. v. 436 The Soviet leader [sc. Brezhnev] surprised Kissinger..with his American political habit of ‘pressing the flesh’—punching an arm, squeezing, backpatting.
1995 Mother Jones June 43/2 Unlike Jack Kemp or Bill Clinton, Limbaugh hates to press flesh.
2002 New Republic 9 Sept. 26/2 In 1972 he..barnstormed across the state. ‘He loved to get out and press the flesh.’
2. To apply pressure to (something).
a. transitive. To subject to pressure so as to reduce to a particular shape, consistency, smoothness, thinness, or bulk, or so as to extract juice, etc., from; to compress, squeeze.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > press or squeeze [verb (transitive)] > twist, wring, or squeeze out
twistc1374
press1381
expressc1400
outwringc1430
to wring upc1440
queasea1450
dow1481
strain1483
squash1599
crush1602
squeeze1602
squeeze1611
out-scruze1626
compel1657
α.
1381 Diuersa Servicia in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 65 (MED) Nym Veel..and frye yt and presse it wel upon a bord.
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 615 (MED) I presse a grape with strok and stryf.
a1400 Twelve Profits of Tribulation (Royal) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 50 (MED) Þo pressure presses þo grapis, þat þo preciouse wyne may be departid fro þo dreggis.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. i. f. 3 They neuer eate Iucca, excepte it be firste sliced and pressed.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 530 The marre or refuse of grapes after they be pressed.
1659 J. Leak tr. I. de Caus New Inventions Water-works 1 The Aire may be prest, but not the Water.
1767 H. Glasse Art of Cookery (new ed.) App. 345 Press them as long as there is any milk in the almonds.
1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. I. xix. 221 The rollers, by which sugar canes are pressed, are in general situated vertically.
1855 R. Herring Paper 64 First, we have what is termed the water-leaf, or the condition in which the paper appears after being pressed between the felts.
1892 in A. E. Lee Hist. Columbus II. 539 Finely ground clays, pressed with heavy presses and repressed into uniform shape and compactness.
1927 E. V. Knight & M. Wulpi Veneers & Plywood xxvi. 294 Pressing plywood singly, even in the multiple platen presses,..is a slow and expensive process.
1971 J. Jeffs Wines of Europe ii. 45 After three or four days..the grapes are pressed and the must is fermented.
2002 M. Kurlansky Salt (2003) vi. 99 Each creamery had a cheese master whose hands reached into the copper vats.., scooping up and pressing the curds as they were forming.
β. ?a1475 Noble Bk. Cookry in Middle Eng. Dict. at Pressen Swynge egges and swet mylk togedur..then sethe it and sie it throughe a clothe, and pres the remnyant and lesshe it cold.
b. transitive. To smooth or flatten (fabric or clothes) with an iron or clothes press; to iron.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > wash clothes [verb (transitive)] > press or iron
set1530
press1555
pote1600
poke1606
smooth1617
iron?1670
goffer1706
steel1746
goose1808
streak1823
flat-iron1865
fuller1880
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > treat or process textile fabric [verb (transitive)] > other processes
starch1390
scour1467
burl1483
waterc1500
calender1513
shoot1532
press1555
gum1612
reimbale1623
strike1701
bias1838
pad1839
spirit1854
bray1879
stream1883
crisp1892
block1905
Schreiner1905
mercerize1911
1555 J. Heywood Two Hundred Epigrammes with Thyrde sig. B.i He hath turnd his typpet and prest it so close That for a turnd typpet it hath a feyre glose.
c1615 in Victoria Hist. Suffolk (1907) (modernized text) II. 262 For mantling, folding, pressing, and tilloting each cloth 20d.
1774 W. Buchan Domest. Med. (ed. 3) xi. 139 That baneful custom said to be practised in many inns, of damping sheets, and pressing them in order to save washing.
1844 G. Dodd Textile Manuf. Great Brit. iii. 106 ‘Pressing’ it [sc. cloth] between hot iron plates and smooth millboard.
1879 C. J. Kickham Knocknagow xxii. 143 Seizing his lap-board he commenced ‘pressing’ the coat with great energy and briskness of action.
1908 M. E. Morgan How to dress Doll viii. 67 Sew the tucks firmly, then press them open.
1957 C. MacInnes City of Spades i. ix. 68 At one time I pressed suits by day and worked in the Post Office by night.
1976 C. Dexter Last seen Wearing xvi. 123 The little woman at home cooking a meal for you and probably pressing your pants or something.
2003 C. Berlinski Loose Lips Epil. 249 The room is neat; the dhobiwalla has pressed my cotton clothing into crisp folds.
c. transitive. To flatten and dry (leaves, flowers, etc.) in order to preserve them.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > botany > explore or examine botanically [verb (transitive)] > press plant material to preserve it
press1785
1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. viii. 86 Your pile of plants and papers thus arranged, must be put into the press, without which your plants will not be flat and even; some are for pressing them more, others less.
1840 C. Fox Jrnl. 22 Mar. in Mem. Old Friends (1882) vi. 75 Clara has been collecting flowers, and they have been together pressing many of them.
1911 J. Muir My First Summer in Sierra 136 Have greatly enjoyed all this huge day,..steeping in the mountain influences, sketching,..pressing flowers, drinking..Tamarack water.
1974 W. C. Cartner Fun with Botany 23 Plant specimens can be pressed and dried for further study.
1990 Pract. Gardening Nov. 12/2 Even blackberries and rose hips have been pressed and used to make a seasonal tableau.
d. transitive. Originally: to manufacture (a gramophone record) by moulding under pressure. Hence: to make or issue (a sound recording). Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > make recording [verb (transitive)]
phonograph1878
gramophone1908
press1918
to put on wax1932
wax1935
cut1937
tape1950
tape-record1950
audiotape1961
to lay down1967
over-record1977
1918 H. Seymour Reprod. Sound 175 A stamper is a working matrix for pressing records, and as such is merely a duplicate of the master matrix.
1929 P. Wilson & G. W. Webb Mod. Gramophones xi. 253 The stampers which press records have to be kept at a certain temperature in order that the record material will flow properly.
1954 W. W. Johnson Gramophone Bk. 55 By 1929 one record manufacturer alone was pressing records at the rate of a million a week.
1977 Zigzag Apr. 12/3 He pressed up just a thousand copies at first.
1995 K. Bilby in P. Manuel et al. Caribbean Currents vii. 156 Some sound-system operators invested in basic recording equipment and began pressing records of local artists.
3. transitive. To extract by pressure; to express; to squeeze (liquid, juice, etc.) from or out of something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > press or squeeze [verb (transitive)]
thrutchc888
distrainc1381
thrust1382
pressc1390
compressc1400
thresta1425
bruisec1465
thrumble1513
squize1548
squiss1558
scruze1590
squeeze1601
vice1602
squish1647
birzea1774
squeege1787
appress1789
squidge1881
punch1903
mash1930
α.
c1390 in F. J. Furnivall Minor Poems Vernon MS (1901) ii. 615 (MED) I [sc. the Cross] presse wyn for kniht and knape.
?c1425 Recipe in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (Arun. 334) (1790) 467 (MED) Take the clene white of lekes wel wasshed and sethe hom..presse oute the water.
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 49 (MED) Sethe hom in water..Þen take hom up, presse a non Þe water of hom.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. SSSiv This..shall presse out teares of our eyes.
1663 J. Beale Let. 9 Nov. in R. Boyle Corr. (2001) II. 185 To hold up to the lambe to the Ewes udder, pressing the milke into the lambs mouth.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 61 To gather Laurel-berries, and the Spoil Of bloody Myrtles, and to press your Oyl. View more context for this quotation
1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §212 Wine is pressed from the grape.
1782 A. Monro Ess. Compar. Anat. (ed. 3) 32 in Monro's Anat. Human Bones (new ed.) We can..press out of them a chylous..liquor.
1830 M. Donovan Domest. Econ. I. vii. 249 The grape-cake which remains after the wine has been pressed out is called by the French les marcs de raisin.
1899 J. Rodway In Guiana Wilds 117 The matapee for pressing out the poisonous juice.
1937 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper 195/1 Press rolls are pairs of heavy rolls,..serving to press out the water from the web of paper.
1960 E. David in Vogue May 195/1 Press out excess moisture.
1992 Country Homes & Interiors Apr. 49 Cider was pressed in a small building beside the house and stored in the vast paved cellar.
β. ?a1475 Noble Bk. Cookry in Middle Eng. Dict. at Pressen Tak hert, middrif, and kidney and hew them smalle and prise out the blod.
4. transitive. To cause to move in a particular direction, or into a certain position, by pressure of contact; to push, drive, or thrust down, forward, into, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push
thrustc1175
pilta1200
pingc1300
pote1340
pusha1350
beara1398
pokea1425
possa1425
pressc1425
shun1674
crowd1830
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > press or force down
downbeara1382
pressc1425
to bear down1440
depress1526
suppress1542
detrude1548
sway1857
to force down1917
α.
c1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Vesp. B.xii) (1904) 76 If ȝe se þat þe foot and þe knees haue..ipressid[Digby ypressede] þe gras adoun, it is tokyn þat it is a grete dere and an heuy.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvii. 688 Thai pressit the sow toward the wall.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke vi. f. lxxxiijv Goode measure, pressed doune, shaken to gedder, and runnynge over.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xviii. 495 The Wind being on our broad side, prest her down very much.
1715 J. Delacoste tr. H. Boerhaave Aphorisms 94 Having pressed the Pus duly towards the pointing Tumor, let the Launcet be stuck into the whitest..Part.
1754 W. Emerson Princ. Mech. (1758) 276 A pump that discharges water by pressing it upwards.
1807 T. Young Course Lect. Nat. Philos. I. xxi. 264 The root of the tongue is pressed against the palate.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. i. 8 Her..eyelids were softly pressed down as with a gentle irresistible weight, and she fell asleep.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 250 The blood pressed up the vena cava can be aspirated into the right heart.
1925 J. Joly Surface-hist. Earth 192 These are rock-folds which have been pressed over by unbalanced horizontal forces.
1951 G. Greene End of Affair iii. ii. 112 I pressed my nails into the palms of my hands until I could feel nothing but the pain.
1988 G. Swift Out of this World 31 I pressed my face against the white blankets.
2001 Treasure Hunting Feb. 24/4 The chape was attached to the shoe by pressing its spikes through holes in the latchet.
β. c1425 tr. J. Arderne Treat. Fistula (Sloane 6) (1910) 13 (MED) Þe gutte or þarme þat is called longaon..shal be bristen wiþ-in þe lure, and presed byfore þat þe aposteme be bristen withoute-forþe.
†5. transitive. To print. Cf. impress v.1 4. Occasionally intransitive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > [verb (transitive)]
imprint1477
impress1508
print1511
stamp1555
press1579
pull1653
to take off1707
to throw off1720
strike1759
typefy1856
1579 W. Fulke Confut. Treat. N. Sander in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 691 Howe proue you that this picture was pressed when that leafe came to correction?
1637 W. Laud Relat. Conf. Fisher (1639) Ep. Ded. sig. A iij b The Discourse upon this Conference stayed so long, before it could endure to be pressed.
1857 T. H. Warren By Severn Sea 32 He who pressed, He who bound.
6. Sport.
a. intransitive (originally and chiefly Golf). To try to hit a ball too hard or fast, typically resulting in tense, inaccurate play.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > play golf [verb (intransitive)] > types of stroke
putt1690
approach1887
duff1890
to drive the green1892
hack1893
sclaff1893
press1897
chip1903
bolt1909
to chip in1914
double-bogey1952
bogey1977
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > play tennis [verb (intransitive)] > types of stroke
volley1819
cut1875
to kill a ball1883
press1897
undercut1926
dink1939
moonball1982
softball1982
1897 P. Collier in Outing May 185 You begin to think about the shots, and to try a little harder, and you ‘press’ and fail.
1922 P. G. Wodehouse Clicking of Cuthbert vi. 132 Keep the head still..don't press.
1977 Tennis World Sept. 17/2 A player is said to be pressing if his shots are over-eager or impatient.
1988 R. Angell Season Ticket (1989) v. 96 The players press and start to change their batting stances.
2002 Daily Mail (Nexis) 16 Apr. 72 This is not a good golf course to start pressing on.
b. transitive. Weightlifting and Bodybuilding. To raise (a weight) from shoulder height by pushing it upwards above the head; (also) to bench-press (a weight). Cf. press n.1 11d.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > athletics > contend in athletics [verb (intransitive)] > lift weight
press1906
squat1956
1906 Health & Strength Apr. 140/1 Arthur then easily pressed the 286 lbs. with one hand.
1939 R. C. Hoffman Weight Lifting 94 I was only fairly strong and could press overhead in very poor style 80 pounds.
1956 Strength & Health Nov. 8/2 Clyde was still strong, pressing 255, 265, 275.
1994 Men's Health Jan. 50 Lift the bar off the rack, then slowly lower it to your chest. Press the weight up until your arms are extended.
2002 Voice 11 Feb. 19 At the end of a gruelling regime of..weight-training, his body had exploded to 15st 10lbs and he could press 365 lbs.
c. intransitive. Gymnastics. To perform a physical manoeuvre or exercise by exerting pressure with part of the body.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > take part in gymnastics [verb (intransitive)] > actions or positions
to skin the cat1844
to chin the bar1903
kip1909
pike1956
press1956
trampoline1972
1956 G. C. Kunzle & B. W. Thomas Freestanding ii. 32 Straighten out with the knees, press off on to one leg and lower the trunk sideways.
1984 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 22 July v. 5 The gymnasts swing and press into handstands, trying to keep the rings still.
2004 Indianapolis Star (Nexis) 5 June a1 The gym had no program for boys. But soon he could press into a handstand.
II. Senses connected with the notion of a crowd or throng, or of pushing one's way as in a throng: cf. press n.1 5.Before 1600 frequently in β form: see note in etymology.
7.
a. intransitive. Of a person or (esp.) a number of people: to come closely to or about a person or place; to gather in a crowd; to crowd, throng. Also figurative and in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (intransitive)] > crowd together
thickc1000
pressa1350
empressc1400
shock1548
serry1581
pester1610
serr1683
thicken1726
crush1755
scrouge1798
pack1828
to close up1835
to be packed (in) like sardines1911
scrum1913
α.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 462 (MED) I se the besinesse Of al this yonge lusty route, Whiche alday pressen hire aboute.
c1440 (c1350) Octovian (Thornton) 1263 (MED) Alle þe folke pressede hym to se.
a1500 (?c1400) Song of Roland (1880) 635 (MED) Olyuer and Roger and other fulle many..pressen to the prince in þer palle wedis.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. F8v The crosse lines of a Rhomboides That from their meeting to all angles presse.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. xii. 336 The nations of Germany, who perpetually pressed on the frontiers of the empire.
1832 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (ed. 2) III. ix. 105 The most thinking men in the crowd pressed towards the waggon.
1876 C. M. Davies Unorthodox London (rev. ed.) 106 Consisting..of ‘thoughts that had been pressing in upon his own soul’.
1881 G. A. Henty Cornet of Horse xxvi All the sailors pressed up, eager to know how the pursuit had been shaken off.
1934 Times 24 Oct. 14/2 Thousands pressed round Scott and Black as they made their way to the control room.
1973 T. Pynchon Gravity's Rainbow i. 100 Trees press close: overhead you can see barely enough sky for the rocket's ascent.
1988 M. Dibdin Ratking iv. 85 With all these new developments pressing in on him the last thing he could afford was an afternoon off work.
1998 National Geographic Mar. 50/1 (caption) A crowd presses into the duomo for a chance to kiss a vial of blood said to be from martyred San Gennaro, patron of Naples.
β. a1350 Life St. Alexius (Laud) l. 586 in F. J. Furnivall Adam Davy's 5 Dreams (1878) 77 Þei preseden þerto wiþ gret fors.c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 2530 The peple preeseth [v.rr. pressed, preysed, preyseth, preesseth] thiderward ful soone Hym for to seen and doon heigh reuerence.c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 830 (MED) Mony proud mon þer presed, þat prynce to honour.c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 31 (MED) And men presydde hydder thykly for variawnte causys and shuldrid to-gider.a1500 (?c1450) Bone Florence (1976) 1082 They presyd abowte Syr Sampson all.1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke vi. f. lxxxiij All the people preased to touche hym.1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Worcester xvii I could not passe, so sore they on me preast.1569 T. Stocker tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Successors Alexander i. xxxii. 38 Commanding them to prease and talke with the Captaynes.1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 175 By reason of the multitude preasing up to him.a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 19 No humble suters prease to speake for right. View more context for this quotationc1626 H. Bisset Rolment Courtis (1922) II. 108 The peopill preissed greitlie there to see him and heir his preicheingis.
†b. transitive. To crowd, throng (a person or place). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > crowd together > crowd upon
thringc1000
pressc1450
throng1534
flock1609
crowd1614
scrouge1755
α.
1582 Bible (Rheims) Luke viii. 45 Maister, the multitudes throng and presse thee [L. te comprimunt et affligunt; Wyclif 1382 thringen and turmentyn thee, 1388 thristen and disesen thee; Tindale, etc. thruste the and vexe the; Geneva, thrust thee and treade on thee; 1611 throng thee and preasse thee; Revised, press thee and crush thee].
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lvi. 17 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 58 They presse me neere my soule in snare to take.
1777 W. Dodd Thoughts in Prison 139 With insulting sneers the crowd, Pressing the same bad road, jostled me by.
1814 W. Nicholson Poet. Wks. (1897) 58 Although the shop was e'er sae prest, He'd spier for her and a' the rest.
1848 G. C. Furber Twelve Months Volunteer 229 Every one around leaned over, pressing one another, to see the dice, as the box was lifted.
1929 Rockford (Illinois) Reg. Star 27 June Throngs pressed the business district for the Midsummer Fete.
β. c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 6 (MED) They preysid hir so nygh and round abowt.1562 T. Sternhold et al. Whole Bk. Psalmes cxlii. 361 When thou art good to me, the iust shall prese me round about.
†c. transitive. Nautical to press (on) sail (also canvas) = to crowd sail at crowd v.1 9. Cf. press n.1 11b, press sail n. at press n.1 Compounds 2c. Obsolete (historical in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > support (an amount of) sail [verb (intransitive)] > spread (more) sail > make all possible sail
to pack on1562
to crowd sail1687
to press (on) sail (also canvas)1750
crack1824
1602 J. Brereton Briefe Relation Discouerie Virginia 3 Our barke being weake, we were loth to presse her with much saile.]
1750 Minutes Proc. Trial Rear-Admiral Knowles 81 Did..the Spanish Squadron..press Sail, in order to gain the Wind?
1832 E. C. Wines Two Years & Half in Navy I. 132 Men of war do not carry cargoes, and under ordinary circumstances there is no necessity for pressing on canvass.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxv. 439 The second mate..was afraid to press sail.
1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 98 Press on sail, to see if you can come in.
1914 Indiana (Pa.) Weekly Messenger 2 Dec. He assumed that the English admiral would not follow him, but Hawke pressed on sail and opened fire as darkness was falling.
8.
a. intransitive. To push or strain forward, as through a crowd or against obstacles or hindrances; to push one's way, advance with force or eagerness; to hasten on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > forward movement > move forward or advance [verb (intransitive)] > with persistence, effort, or urgency
shovec888
thringc893
thresta1225
wina1300
thrustc1330
pressa1375
throngc1440
wrestc1450
thrimp1513
to put forward1529
intrude1562
breast1581
shoulder1581
haggle1582
strivea1586
wrestle1591
to push on (also along)1602
elabour1606
contend1609
to put on?1611
struggle1686
worry1702
crush1755
squeege1783
battle1797
scrouge1798
sweat1856
flounder1861
pull?1863
tank1939
bulldozer1952
terrier1959
the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > progress or advance in an action [verb (intransitive)]
wadec1374
passc1387
proceeda1393
followa1400
to pass ona1400
to get forward1523
pace1597
step1599
to get on1655
to get along1768
to tide one's way1827
to come along1844
press1870
α.
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) ii. l. 1341 Than he dede erst þurgh hope and dide his myght. To pressen on as by Pandarus lore. And writen to hire of his sorwes sore.
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 717 (MED) He pressed to his palfray.
a1500 (?a1475) Guy of Warwick (Cambr. Ff.2.38) 607 (MED) There come prykyng dewke Raynere..Pressyng on a stede faste.
a1513 W. Dunbar Ballat Abbot of Tungland in Poems (1998) I. 57 Vnto no mes pressit the prelat, For sound of sacring bell nor skellat.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxxxvj So made way for their fellowes without, which immediatly pressed in with a strong power.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xvii. 110 Air would..press in at some little Avenue or other.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. iv. 584 The Greeks with Shouts press on, and spoil the Dead.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) lxxxix. iv With Reverence and religious Dread His Servants to his House should press.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 115 Pressing forward like the wind.
1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. v. 138 Trojans, great in mastery of steeds, Press on!
1902 G. S. Whitmore Last Maori War ii. 21 Our advanced guard, led by Mr. Davis Canning, who..was an excellent bushman, pressed on almost too impetuously.
1935 N. L. McClung Clearing in West iii. 20 We were late for the meeting..and crowds of people were pressing forward.
1951 ‘N. Shute’ Round Bend vii. 222 This slight girl had pressed through a yelling crowd of furious Arabs.
2004 Sport Diver Aug. 56/2 Bill and I pressed on, out to the sand and algae bed.
β. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2324 (MED) Þe prouost wiþ al þe puple presed forþ formast.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 112 (MED) After þis fest, praised [Fr. se movayt] Steuen with alle his here; Þe castellis he seised, þat he hat neuer ere.a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 236 He preced in proudly and aftir his pray wyndys.1526 Bible (Tyndale) Phil. iii. 14 I forget that which is behynde me..and preace vnto the marke apoynted.c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 5138 So þai past fro þat pales, preset vnto horse.a1599 E. Spenser Canto Mutabilitie vi. xiii, in Faerie Queene (1609) sig. Hh4v The Giantesse..Boldly preacing-on, raught forth her hand.1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. x. 236 Sometimes they prease out thicke and three-folde.1621 R. Brathwait Shepheards Tales in Natures Embassie 209 Two iollie shepheards, that do hither prese.
†b. transitive (reflexive). Scottish. To push oneself on, hurry oneself along. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > carry on vigorously [verb (transitive)] > press forward or urge vigorously
press1489
push1561
to drive on1642
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > act quickly [verb (reflexive)] > make haste
speed1390
hiea1400
hasty?a1425
enhaste1430
delivera1475
press1489
α.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) xvii. 408 With bargis..thai..pressyt thaim rycht fast to tow Hyr.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) vii. l. 2570 Wiþe al þe kynge of Inglandis mycht He pressit hym [Wemyss MS. He schupe him] to þe cite richt.
a1500 Ratis Raving (1939) 895 Press thé to nan vthir end.
a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) ii. 1310 Qwha wiþe in walde presse hym out, þan hym behuffit to mak entre.
β. a1568 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 132 l.113 The tother for dreid he preissit him And fled out of the toun.
c. intransitive. figurative. To continue with a course of action in the face of difficulty or opposition; to carry on, go ahead. to press on regardless: colloquial (originally Military slang) to persevere despite dangers or difficulties.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > regardless of outcome
to make a spoon or spoil a horn1817
to press on regardless1948
1855 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 426/2 Percy was resting from his night journey, and even in his sleep impetuously pressing forward to overvault his difficulties.
1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist v. 286 And why were you shocked—Cranly pressed on in the same tone—if you feel sure that our religion is false?
1948 E. Partridge et al. Dict. Forces' Slang 147 Press on, regardless—or merely press on, to act keenly, to be efficiently busy.
1959 Listener 5 Mar. 428/2 While the scientists press on regardless, the humanists go on worrying.
1960 Times Lit. Suppl. 18 Mar. 182/1 What vitality the man must have had! And it is this vitality which Mr. Coulter's press-on-regardless manner succeeds very well in conveying.
1992 Daily Express 8 June 21/3 He warned that if Britain failed to ratify Maastricht countries like France and Germany would press ahead, leaving us behind.
2003 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 9 Apr. a16/4 Con Edison pressed on, though its plans for a nuclear plant farm were scaled down.
†9.
a. intransitive. To push one's way or advance insistently into a place or a person's presence; to approach presumptuously, to intrude. Also reflexive. Obsolete (archaic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > in unwelcome or unwarranted manner
pressc1390
poach?1536
shovel1540
encroach1555
intrude1573
obtrude1579
wedge1631
interlope1775
to butt in1899
to wade in1905
horn1912
muscle1928
chisel1936
α.
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xvii. 55 There þe poure presseþ by-fore with a pak at hus rygge.
c1475 (c1399) Mum & Sothsegger (Cambr. Ll.4.14) (1936) iii. 195 (MED) For wolde þey..dryue out þe dagges..And lete hem pleye in þe porche and presse non ynnere.
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 76 I will not here presume to presse in with my determination upon this great difference and question.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. A4v Pardon me Madam, That so boldly I presse into your Chamber.
1727 J. Swift Horace Imitated in J. Swift Misc. Last Vol. iii. 36 You ne'er consider whom you shove, But rudely press before a duke.
1885 G. MacDonald Diary Old Soul 16 May I would go near thee—but I cannot press Into thy presence—it helps not to presume.
β. c1390 (c1350) Proprium Sanctorum in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1888) 81 300 (MED) To precen in heo not let Þer þei weore to mete iset.1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 423/1 If ye Kynges Enemyys prese to ye Cuntre yat he is inne.a1450 Dux Moraud in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 111 (MED) I am semly to syttun syttys so sare, I wyl pres me in pride!c1475 tr. A. Chartier Quadrilogue (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1974) 161 (MED) The good men, whiche seldom can preece or boost..is the principall..cause that confermyth..the princes in theire seignuries.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Prov. xxv. A Prease not in to ye place of greate men.1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 9 The peeuishe puttocke may not preace in place where Eagles are.c1600 (?c1395) Pierce Ploughman's Crede (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) 749 So of þat beggers brol a bychop schal worþen, Among þe peres of þe lond prese to sitten.?1614 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses iv. 60 Mens knowledges haue proper limits set, And should not prease into the mind of God.
b. transitive (reflexive). Scottish. To take upon oneself, presume. Chiefly in imperative, in negative constructions. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > overweening or presumption > be overweening or presumptuous [verb (reflexive)]
relievea1382
presumec1425
pressc1480
bear1603
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 229 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 262 Scho..presyt hyre..Thame to refrenȝe fra sik seruice Of ydolis.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 114 Me thocht dame Fortoun..said on this maneir..‘preis the not to stryve aganis my quheill’.
a1586 Moral Rules in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. cxix. 343 Thi honour..Preis the not to Iniwir ffor na warldis wyn.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 4 And preis the nocht my purpois till impung.
†10. intransitive. To endeavour or attempt to do something, esp. with eagerness or haste; to aim at or strive after. Also transitive with indirect question. Also: to undertake, take in hand. Obsolete (archaic and poetic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or set oneself to do [verb (intransitive)]
found12..
to take on (also upon) one(self)a1300
assay1330
study1340
to put (also lay, set, etc.) one's hand to the ploughc1384
intendc1385
pressc1390
to put oneself in pressc1390
gatherc1400
undertakec1405
sayc1425
to fall in hand with (also to do (something))c1450
setc1485
obligea1500
essay?1515
attend1523
supprise1532
to set in foot1542
enterprise1547
address1548
to set in hand1548
prove1612
to make it one's businessa1628
engage1646
embark1647
bend1694
to take hold1868
the world > action or operation > endeavour > make an attempt or endeavour [verb (intransitive)] > strive or struggle
hiec888
to stand inc1175
wrag?c1225
wrestle?c1225
stretcha1375
strivec1384
pressc1390
hitc1400
wring1470
fend15..
battle1502
contend?1518
reluct1526
flichter1528
touse1542
struggle1597
to lay in1599
strain?1606
stickle1613
fork1681
sprattle1786
buffet1824
fight1859
α.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) i. 446 To sen hire goodly lok he gan to presse [rhyme encrese, cece].
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 74 Thai movit bataill and weris, pressand quha mycht be lord.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xviii. 105 And thai that pressit mast to stand War slane doune.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iii. 100 They had..sworne, if I pressed to escape, before the rest.., they would throw me..into the sea.
1811 J. Love Let. 29 Oct. (1840) 349 To press after attaining and communicating to others more of the beginnings and pledges of that glorious life which now we view at a distance.
1926 T. H. Ferril High Passage 17 He pressed to know and love the eager might Of flowers and worms—a poet, if you will.
β. c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 126 (MED) Þen dar non prese for vs to pray But Merci þat passeþ alle þing.?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 166 (MED) But now ȝonge childre, vnable boþe of lif & kunnynge, presen faste to be prestis in name & not in dede.a1500 Ratis Raving i. 337 Bot that þow pres to do, my sone, Rycht as þow wald to the war done.a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 120 Lang heir to dwell na thing thow pres.a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid x. xi. 193 Athir way till assay thrys preisyt hes he.1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 617 To cum to this Palice he preissis to preif.1578 T. Proctor Gorgious Gallery sig. Piiv With Poets pen, I doo not preace to write.a1596 G. Peele Loue King Dauid & Fair Bethsabe (1599) Prol. sig. Bj Of this sweet Poet Ioues Musition,..I prease to sing.1642 D. Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. sig. A2v We had now need, to prease upon more familiar acquaintance with God.c1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 24 The Kirk in this mean tyme preassing to keep their Assemblies, but got little good done.
III. Figurative senses relating to actions compared to physical pressure.
11.
†a. transitive. To affect with a feeling of (physical or mental) pressure, constraint, or distress; to weigh down, burden, oppress (the feelings, mind, etc.). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > condition of being oppressed > oppress [verb (transitive)]
beareOE
charka1300
to weigh downa1340
besit1377
to bear (a person or thing) heavyc1384
oppressc1384
thringa1400
empressc1400
accloyc1425
to sit downa1450
threst1513
downtread1536
to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595
to bear (a person or thing) hard (also heavily, heavy, etc.)1602
pressa1616
weight1647
to bear (a person or thing) heavily1702
weigh1794
freight1892
α.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) Wisd. x. 15 Erþely indwelling presseth doun [L. deprimit] þe wit.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 78 Juel digestioun and grete replecioun..pressiþ þe spirit of felinge and suffreþ it noȝt reste.
c1460 (a1449) J. Lydgate Fabula Duorum Mercatorum (Harl.) 331 in Minor Poems (1934) ii. 497 (MED) Whan nature of vertu regitiff Thoruh malencolye is pressyd and bor doun, It is to dreede gretly of the liff.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Comm. on Canticles (Univ. Oxf. 64) in Psalter (1884) 497 My thoght and myn entent ere..noght pressid down in þe luf of þis warld.
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxv. f. 222 He felt himself so prest with that newe fauor, as he remained mute.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 174 I haue this while with laden thoughts bin prest . View more context for this quotation
1656 J. Smith Compl. Pract. Physick 259 When he ascends a steep place, he is pressed with an unusual difficulty of breathing.
1695 M. Prior Ode after Queen's Death vi If prest by Grief our Monarch stoops.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) lxxxviii. i These horrid Clouds that press my frighted Soul.
1764 J. Boswell Jrnl. 2 Sept. in Boswell on Grand Tour (1953) I. 76 Spleen pressed me down.
β. 1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie 33 Iob and Ieremie, preast with woes and wrongs.
†b. transitive. Of a tyrant, adverse circumstances, etc.: to oppress; to crush, reduce to distress or misery; to load or burden with impositions or restrictions; to distress, afflict. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (transitive)]
ofsiteOE
forthringOE
overlayOE
ofsetOE
to tread down, under foot, in the mire, to the ground, to piecesc1175
overseta1200
defoulc1300
oppressa1382
overpressa1382
overchargec1390
overleadc1390
overliea1393
thringa1400
overcarkc1400
to grind the faces (occasionally face) ofa1425
press?a1425
downthringc1430
vicea1525
tread1526
to hold (also keep, bring, put) one's nose to the grindstonea1533
tyrannizea1533
wring1550
downpress1579
bepress1591
defoil1601
ingrate1604
crush1611
grinda1626
macerate1637
trample1646
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict > oppress or afflict
heavyc897
narroweOE
overlayOE
overseamOE
twingea1300
to weigh downa1340
grieve1340
besit1377
oppressc1384
foila1400
thringa1400
empressc1400
enpressc1400
aska1425
press?a1425
peisea1450
straita1464
constraina1500
overhale1531
to grate on or upon1532
wrack1562
surcharge1592
to lie heavy uponc1595
to weigh back, on one side, to the earth1595
to sit on ——1607
to sit upon ——1607
gall1614
bear1645
weight1647
obsess1648
aggrieve1670
swinge1681
lean1736
gravitate1754
weigh1794
α.
?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. iv. pr. v. 25 I merveile me..why..that tormentz of felonyes pressen and confounden goode folk.
a1500 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Nero) i. l. 1663 Na man sulde swa hardy be Hym to presse, to tak or sla.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique iii. f. 106 Chrisogonus here, that moste can do, wil presse vs with his power.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xiii. 95 Yet are they pressed wyth a more grieuous tribute.
1609 Bible (Douay) II. Hist. Table. 1079 The children of Israel were pressed with servitude in Ægypt.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island iii. xix. 33 So when a tyrant raves, his subjects pressing, His gaining is their losse.
1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. x. 153 The People, press'd by Hunger, called loudly for Bread.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §102 I should not be able to..get out when there pressed with danger.
β. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5093 Non proffer, apon payne, to prese hym no more.
c. transitive. Of an enemy, pursuer, etc.: to bear down on; to attack forcefully; to beset, harass. Frequently in passive, esp. in hard pressed: cf. hard adv. Compounds 1b(b).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > harass or press hard
forcec1330
pressc1450
express1490
gall1548
harass1622
α.
a1464 J. Capgrave Chron. Eng. (Cambr.) 49 (MED) The Grekis schul not only be ovyrcome, but thei schal be pressed down with swech a multitude.
1494 Loutfut MS f. 27v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Pres Scho gettis a strak with his neb becaus scho pressis our mekle the agle.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 8606 Polidamas, the pert, was presset so fast, Þat he was wonen in wer & away led.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccliij The horsemen pressed him before, and the fotemen gaue the onset at his back.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 128 All of them [sc. harts] being pressed with dogs or other wilde beasts, will flye vnto a man for succor.
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 94 in Trav. Persia The Generalissimo ceas'd not to press the Armenians.
1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V II. iv. 271 The castle of Milan was pressed more closely than ever.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India I. v. iv. 615 He was so hard pressed on his retreat that he could not avoid an action.
1882 Macmillan's Mag. 46 125 Sorely pressed by the inbursting Goths in the province of Mœsia.
1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell Reminisc. Great Mutiny 23 Although hard pressed at first, the force eventually gained a..victory.
1906 W. Walker John Calvin vii. 166 The Savoyards pressed Geneva and made travel unsafe on the roads.
1960 A. Duggan Family Favourites v. 90 Long training kept us in formation; but our opponents, also well trained, still pressed us.
2003 Guardian (Nexis) 26 July 1 Shells, mortars and gunfire ripped through the Liberian capital, as rebels pressed the forces of President Charles Taylor.
β. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 5109 (MED) It was purveid..Þat ȝe suld pas in-to Pers & prese it with armes.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) x. 316 [He] presyt the folk that thar-in ves, Swa that nocht ane the ȝet durst pas.c1580 ( tr. Bk. Alexander (1925) I. i. 3040 Quhen he preissit is ony thing, He lettis nocht..His fallowis chaissit be to neir.
†d. transitive. Of a difficulty, etc.: to obstruct, beset. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)]
press1654
beset1800
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence 35 On the other side no inconvenience can presse our interpretation of ‘spiritual eating Christ by faith’.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. i. §8 The Atheist in denying a Deity, must assert something else instead of it, which is pressed with the same, if not greater difficulties, and proved by far less reason.
e. transitive. In passive. To be inconvenienced or put into difficulty by some circumstance, esp. a lack of or need for something (as money, time, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > of difficulty: beset (a person) [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in difficulty > reduce to straits
enstraita1500
plungea1513
to put or drive to a (or the) shift or shifts1553
to put (one) to (upon) his trump or trumps1559
to drive (a person) near1594
to put, drive, reduce, etc. to the last shiftsa1604
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
press1672
pinch1693
push1761
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > be in difficulties or straits
to be hard bested?c1225
to be hard set1387
to be hard (straitly, stiffly, etc.) steada1400
to have mistera1400
charge1487
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
straiten1647
to be ill set1673
press1813
to be up a gum tree1829
push1863
1672 T. Shadwell Miser ii. ii. 34 He is so pressed for money, that hee'l undergo what ever you can put upon him.
1752 C. Osborne Mem. 170 I grew very uneasy, and was exceedingly pressed for money.
1798 T. Holcroft He's much to Blame iv. xii. 70 I am just now so pressed for time that I have not a moment to spare.
1813 T. B. Macaulay in Life & Lett. (1880) I. 42 Being pressed for room, I will conclude.
1844 G. L. Craik Sketches Hist. Lit. & Learning Eng. I. 98 He had felt continually pressed by the necessity of economising his paper or parchment.
1866 G. A. Lawrence Sans Merci xiv You can have money sooner, if you are much pressed for it.
1930 W. Lewis Apes of God xii. vi. 469 Cut the cackle Arthur—I'm pressed for time!
1967 A. J. Toynbee Between Maule & Amazon 108 If you are pressed for time..leave Yucatán unvisited.
1992 Harper's Mag. Mar. 7/1 It would have been hard to imagine that one day the United States might find itself pressed for cash.
2005 Washington Post 12 Apr. f3/3 If you're not pressed for time at the gym, kick back during your rest period.
12.
a. transitive. To urge, insist on the belief, admission, or mental acceptance of (something); to impress on or upon a person; to present earnestly, plead (a claim, etc.) insistently. to press home: to present (an argument) forcefully; to emphasize (a fact or opinion).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > pressure or urgency > press or urge [verb (transitive)]
strain1380
pressa1382
art?1406
enforcec1449
to stand for ——1531
work1532
urge1560
force1580
instance1606
the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > persevere or persist in [verb (transitive)] > insist upon
pressa1382
sustain?c1450
α.
1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 35 It must be pressed..vpon the Magistrate, that he is bound in Conscience to pull down all Churches, once superstitiously prostituted to Popish Idolatry.
1655 J. Bramhall Def. True Liberty Ep. Ded. To press home those things in writing..(a course much to be preferred before verbal conferences, as being..less subject to mistakes and misrelations).
1696 R. Bentley Of Revel. & Messias 3 The Apostle..presseth this advice in the text.
1735 J. Hildebrand Fatal Constancy iii. iii. 233 Then will I press it home, And in such terms as shall not fail to move.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 217 Remember..To press your point with modesty and ease.
1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. vi. 241 Thus are we brought again to the conclusion already pressed upon attention.
1878 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. (ed. 2) III. xviii. §664. 129 He..presses on the potentates of east and west the great opportunity for ecclesiastical union.
1922 T. S. Eliot Let. 3 Oct. (1988) I. 577 I have hesitated..to press upon you the claims of an unborn quarterly of unknown qualities.
1968 G. S. Haight George Eliot viii. 211 He pressed his Evangelical reforms on the parish with more zeal than wisdom.
2004 Economist 23 Oct. 19 Both have every right to press home their commercial advantages, as indeed has America.
β. a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) i. 19 He..wolde be..more wyllyng oþer mennys þingez schamefastlich to lerne þan hys owne vnschamfastly to prece [v.r. beryn] forþ [L. ingerere].c1390 Talkyng of Love of God (Vernon) (1950) 22 (MED) Þat Merci is so plentiuous..presed euer ar men hit asken.1561 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 266 Gif ony suddane alteratioun or novatioun be preissit or attemptit.1584 King James VI & I in H. Paton Rep. Laing MSS (1914) I. 42 Ye sall with all instance preas the delywerie to us of the principallis.1665 in H. Paton Rep. Laing MSS (1914) I. 345 My lord, I shall bege the favor that this may prese my servic to me ladie.
b. transitive. To push forward or further (an argument, consideration, position, etc., already posited); to continue to insist on (a point of view).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > pressure or urgency > press or urge [verb (transitive)] > forward
press1649
1649 Mercurius Elencticus No. 24. 190 The Sessions-house affords us variety of examples, especially when Pride (the Swine-heard) [i.e. Prideaux] is on the Bench: I neede not presse it any further.
1677 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (rev. ed.) 355 Nor am I willing to press these conjectures any further.
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women I. i. 17 I press not any farther an argument so exceedingly plain.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. ii. 130 Charles had no desire to press matters to extremities.
1883 R. Broughton Belinda II. iii. iii. 215 He was not very much in earnest; he did not press the point.
1954 C. P. Snow New Men xxv. 177 The argument was still going on, the scientists there were pressing the case against using the bomb.
1975 S. J. Perelman Vinegar Puss 80 It was lucky for him that he didn't press the matter, else he would have had his weasand slit from ear to ear.
2004 N.Y. Times Mag. 4 Jan. 31/1 All the major candidates continue to press the loose-nukes issue.
c. transitive. To insist that a person receive or accept (something offered); to thrust on or upon a person.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > force or impose something upon
to lay on11..
join1303
taxa1375
intruse?a1500
oversetc1500
beforcec1555
impose1581
threap1582
fasten1585
intrude1592
thrust1597
enforcea1616
forcea1616
entail1670
top1682
trump1694
push1723
coerce1790
press1797
inflict1809
levy1863
octroy1865
wish1915
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. i. 4 He pressed the offer so repeatedly and respectfully, that, at length, she accepted it.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 285 (note) He..refused the first ecclesiastic dignities, which were unsolicitedly pressed upon him.
1879 M. Pattison Milton v. 63 The garden-house in Aldersgate-street had before been found too small for the pupils who were being now pressed upon Milton.
1939 W. S. Maugham Christmas Holiday (1953) iv. 109 Madame Berger pressed sandwiches on Lydia.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 40 I was bogged down in a kind of near-neurotic inertia or negativism which inhibited me from pressing my love upon her.
1990 R. Malan My Traitor's Heart (1991) ii. 281 I invoked his several women and many children, and pressed the cash on him.
13.
a. transitive. To impel or try to impel to action; to constrain; to force. Now rare except as merged with weaker sense ‘urge, try to persuade’ at 14b.In early use frequently in α form, perhaps deriving allusively or figuratively from sense 1c: see note in etymology.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge, press, or impel
pullc1300
firk1340
enforce138.
pressa1393
thrust14..
impel1490
urge1576
to put (a person) to it1581
importune1598
to lay weight upon1600
riot1777
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)]
needeOE
straita1340
pressa1393
afforcea1400
stressa1400
coactc1400
coarctc1400
strainc1400
compulse?a1475
cohert1475
oppress1523
compel1526
forcec1540
to tie to the stake1544
urge1576
adact1615
duressa1626
coerce1659
railroad1889
to twist the tail1895
steamroll1900
steamroller1912
shanghai1919
bulldozer1945
shotguna1961
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > to do something
holdc1275
piltc1275
constraina1340
strength1340
distrainc1374
compelc1380
makec1395
distressa1400
stressa1400
art?1406
putc1450
coerce1475
cohert1475
enforce1509
perforce1509
forcec1540
violent?1551
press1600
necessitate1601
rack1602
restrain1621
reduce1622
oblige1632
necessiate1709
α.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 1733 Sodeinly the jugge he nom..and hath him pressed, That he the sothe him hath confessed.
a1500 (a1425) Metrical Life St. Robert of Knaresborough (1953) 401 I may noght wyth forfett Ouercome þis catyeff Robynett; Ȝit am I prest hym to pursue.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. vi. 101 Gif ȝour desyre be sa fermly prest [etc.].
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 185 Why should he stay, whom loue doth presse to go? View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xviii. 5 Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Iewes, that Iesus was Christ. View more context for this quotation
1637 in R. Renwick Extracts Rec. Stirling (1887) I. 178 The ministeris ar begun to be pressed.
1739 J. Sparrow tr. H. F. Le Dran Observ. Surg. xlviii. 172 The Patient being pressed to go backwards, went behind his Tent with his Arm in a Sling.
1861 T. E. May Constit. Hist. Eng. (1863) I. i. 62 They [sc. the Commons] could withhold the supplies, and press the king with representations against his ministers.
β. c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 1658 (MED) For þegre enuye þat eche had to oþer Dide þaym preece to be pryvy and put aweye þe beste.1580 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 281 They have nevir persuadit nor preissit his Majestie to this hour.a1627 T. Middleton Mayor of Quinborough (1661) i. i. 8 Great Constantine, our Noble Father,..therefore prais'd me into this profession.
b. intransitive. Of business, an obligation, a task: to be urgent; to necessitate immediate action; (of time) to compel haste, esp. by being short. Occasionally also transitive. Cf. sense 11e.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > be necessary [verb (intransitive)] > be pressing or urgent
pressa1450
α.
1683 W. Temple Mem. in Wks. (1731) I. 396 The Prince wou'd have had me stay, but..I pretended some Letters press'd me, and so went away.
1746 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 44 Let it be done with Dispatch, for the time presses.
1823 W. Scott Peveril III. v. 115 Do you think I will read all these?.. I mean is there any thing which presses?
1860 Amer. Agriculturist Dec. 354/2 Plans for the garden should be in readiness before Spring work presses.
a1894 R. L. Stevenson In South Seas (1896) ii. v. 195 On the morning of 17th September the sufferer died, and, time pressing, he was buried the same day at four.
1947 P. G. Wodehouse Full Moon vi. 126 Do you mind if we get back to the res. Time presses.
1987 K. Gibbons Ellen Foster (1988) i. 5 Not one thing is pressing on me to get done here.
2005 Lewiston (Idaho) Morning Tribune (Nexis) 19 June 2 e For people too pressed by time to make dinner, Applebee's has a to-go service.
β. a1450 York Plays (1885) 432 (MED) Here may we notte melle more at þis tyde, For prossesse of plaies þat precis in plight.
c. transitive. To impel to rapid movement; to urge, hasten, drive quickly on. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move or cause to move swiftly in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > direct (one's way or steps) with haste > cause to move with haste
i-fuseOE
speeda1325
hastec1330
hasty?a1425
hasten?1537
press1611
hackney1617
scurry1850
shoot1895
1611 Bible (King James) Esther viii. 14 So the posts..went out, being hastened, and pressed on by the kings commandement. View more context for this quotation
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xx. 198 I..pressed my dogs for the hut.
1907 Placerville (Calif.) Mountain Democrat 1 June To have pressed the horse on might have led to disaster.
1992 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 8 June 27 After the cross-country, Powell had received an official warning from the Ground Jury following reports that he had ‘pressed his horse when it was tired’.
d. transitive. With the action or movement as object: to hasten, execute quickly. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > put on (speed) > accelerate
festinate1556
accelerate1570
quicken1605
swiften1638
urgea1721
press1742
smarten1825
speed1856
to hit up1893
1742 W. Collins Persian Eclogues iv. 21 Fast as they prest their Flight.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. i. 3 Tressilian and his attendants pressed their route with all dispatch.
1969 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 6 July 1/6 A search-light equipped helicopter was to press the search overnight.
14. (In early use sometimes in α form, perhaps from a direct association with branch II.: see note in etymology.)
a. intransitive. To implore a person for something or †to do something; to make a forceful demand for; †to put pressure on or upon a person by urgent entreaty (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > request > make a request [verb (intransitive)] > urgently or persistently
pressa1425
instandc1450
to put at ——1534
importune1548
push1595
to put upon ——a1617
drum1833
what-the-hell1924
opportune1941
α.
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 693 Hire em ne wolde cesse, For Troilus, upon hire for to presse [v.r. preesse].
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) clvi. 599 Kynge Arthur hath sore pressed on me to haue my dignyte & realme.
1648 in S. R. Gardiner Hamilton Papers (1880) 220 My Lord Newcastle hes prest mouch for his dispach, and a comision for the North.
1709 J. Addison Tatler No. 121. ⁋1 There was a Gentlewoman below who..pressed very much to see me.
1796 F. Burney Camilla I. 91 [He] only advised him to study his last lesson, before he pressed for anything new.
1832 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (ed. 2) III. ix. 96 Don't press for an answer yet.
1895 Law Times 99 468/1 I applied for this on the 9th May, and pressed for it day by day.
1923 Glasgow Herald 27 Jan. 11 The deputation intends..to press for the inter-availability of these tickets on all systems.
1960 G. R. Stevens Canad. National Railways (1962) ii. 170 The Department of Railways and Canals..had begun to press for the implementation of the lease agreement before the completion of the line.
1995 Times 6 Nov. 40/7 (heading) Fraudbusters press for more powers.
β. a1425 (?a1400) Cloud of Unknowing (Harl. 674) (1944) 28 Ȝif any þouȝt prees apon þee to aske þee what þou woldest haue, answere him, [etc.].1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iii, in Wks. 214/1 He was in his examinacion sore preaced vpon to tell for what intent he made such a sermon ready.?1536 ( Jack Upland 320 in W. W. Skeat Chaucerian & Other Pieces (1897) 200 Frere, what charite is this, to prese upon a riche man?a1699 A. Halkett Autobiogr. (1875) 43 As much as was fitt to prese for the reason.
b. transitive. To urge by words or arguments; to try hard to persuade; to importune, put pressure on, or earnestly entreat (a person) for or to do something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > try to persuade
stirc1380
pressc1440
fanda1500
attempta1547
invite1548
procure1551
to threap (something) upon1571
to set upon ——1652
flog1793
the mind > language > speech > request > request or ask for [verb (transitive)] > urge or importune
depressc1400
nurnc1400
pressc1440
labourc1450
instancea1513
instanta1513
importune1530
to lie at, upon1535
apply1559
urge1568
importunate1574
ply1581
to put on ——?a1600
flagitate1623
besiege1712
earwig1804
bone1856
tout1920
S.O.S.a1936
opportune1941
α.
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxv. f. 223 Rhomeo seeing himself pressed to part with the companie,..demaunded of one of his friends what she was.
1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church 273 They be Ieromes owne words that I presse you with.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iv. i. 422 You presse me farre, and therefore I wil yeeld. View more context for this quotation
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 23 Neither they nor any other would take the least reward of mee, though I pressed them to receiue it.
1623 Prince Charles Let. in Athenæum 24 Feb. (1872) 241/2 Which the Pope so earnestlie preases to be added.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia Pref. More than Four hundred Queries..to which I was pressed for Answers.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 409 He was much pressed to go into a neighbouring apartment.
1800 T. De Quincey Let. 20 Aug. in ‘H. A. Page’ T. De Quincey: Life & Writings (1877) I. iii. 53 To avoid being pressed..to stay another day.
1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 13 I will join with you in the enquiry, but I will not press you if you would rather not.
1919 Outing Mar. 291/2 When pressed for details he took refuge behind a general and useful ignorance of English.
1934 R. Graves I, Claudius xvi. 236 Naturally Germanicus did not press him for the money and naturally Tiberius never gave it him.
1988 E. Young-Bruehl Anna Freud iv. 145 Sigmund Freud had not pressed the Joneses to visit Vienna.
2002 R. Murphy Kick (2003) 135 Sitting on the edge of the quay..Charles told me, because I had pressed him, how he was wounded in Burma.
β. c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 1583 (MED) It aughte to no presoners to prese no lordez.1601 in J. G. Dalyell Darker Superstitions Scotl. (1834) 207 He preissit her to tak ane drynk.
†15. intransitive. To contend, strive against; to withstand. Obsolete (in later use figurative from sense 1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > strive against something
witherc1000
wrag?c1225
wrest?c1225
strivec1300
repugna1382
strugglec1412
pressc1480
butt1566
wring?1570
gainstrive1596
wage1608
α.
1872 J. Morley Voltaire i. 3 Human nature, happily for us, ever presses against this system or that.
β. c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 543 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 44 Saule, saule,..is it nocht hard to þe agane þe brod þu for to prese?1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xii. sig. Mv Ne I against the same can iustly preace [rhymes peace, release].?a1600 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Cambr.) l. 976 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 255 Heleyne, counselede þe troyiens Ageynes gregeois notht for to pres.
16. intransitive. Originally: to produce a strong mental or moral impression upon a person. Later: to weigh heavily on, have a great or adverse effect upon.Now generally taken as a figurative use of sense 1b.
ΚΠ
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. f. 5 Least they shoulde in al thinges seme to despise him, whoes maiestie still presseth vpon them.
1780 Mirror No. 72 The thoughts of futurity..may surely sometimes, not unseasonably, press upon our imagination.
1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in Moral Tales I. 177 The reflection that he had wasted his time..pressed upon his mind.
1839 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation (1863) 164 People in the south, pressed upon by northern opinion.
1881 H. James Portrait of Lady I. iii. 25 Her solitude did not press upon her.
1943 C. S. Lewis Christian Behaviour i. 9 The results of bad morality..press on us every day.
1960 C. Day Lewis Buried Day ii. 36 The adult world pressed only lightly upon me.
1992 B. Unsworth Sacred Hunger xi. 73 There is something pressing on him that he might be ready to talk of to the right man.
17.
a. transitive. To insist on the doing of; to solicit, earnestly request (a course of action, etc.). Also with on, upon. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1625 C. Burges New Discouery Personal Tithes 16 The Apostles peremptory commaund more then once pressed in the Gospel.
1673 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 93 The discontented part of ye Citty press, that ye Election last mentiond may be confirm'd.
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes iii. 143 (note) St. Ambrose very earnestly presseth the payment of Tithes.
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. xxx. 294 I suppose, it was not press'd upon such, by the Apostles, as a Duty.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iv. 65 Such a person might earnestly press the observance of a duty which himself had so well fulfilled.
1834 Tracts for Times No. 40. 2 This material part of piety..had not been sufficiently pressed on my people.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 591 Nothing now remained but to press the use of anti-pneumococcic serum.
2002 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 17 Feb. a1 The newly constituted school board..hired a new schools chief and pressed reading reforms in the elementary schools.
b. transitive. to press charges (or a charge): to instigate legal proceedings; to proceed with an accusation or bring an action against.
ΚΠ
1829 Times 4 Dec. 4/2 His object in pressing a charge against her was to get her provided for in some asylum.
1889 Mag. for Civil & Criminal Law Nov. 19 The desire of promotion sometimes lures certain gifted but rather youthful prosecutors to press charges not fully supported by evidence.
1928 From Truancy to Crime (N.Y. State Sub-commission Causes & Effect of Crime) 89 The arresting officer..stated the boy had held up another man who had refused to press charges.
1960 D. Abrahamsen Psychol. of Crime ix. 165 The mother..pressed charges against her son and had him arrested.
2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 xv. 392 The police had been willing to write off the assault as a domestic but Gerrard had insisted he wanted to press charges.

Compounds

C1. attributive. With the sense ‘used to press, that presses’; (also) ‘operated by pressing’.
press harrow n.
ΚΠ
1840 J. Buel Farmer's Compan. (ed. 2) 146 For pulverizing stiff clays, Concklin's press-harrow is an admirable instrument.
2003 Weekly Times (Austral.) (Nexis) 18 June 19 It was with great scepticism that John recently drove on to his paddock with Matt's press harrow in tow.
press-cock n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > control(s) > [noun] > buttons
tit1864
push-button?1874
press-buttonc1876
push1886
pressel1892
press-cock1932
stop button1940
touch key1957
1932 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 36 854 The ideal starter..was a self-contained unit in which only one simple operation, such as pressing a press-cock, was required.
press switch n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > device to open or close circuit > [noun] > by mode of operation
time switch1884
pull switch1888
press switch1892
autoswitch1903
tumbler switch1907
snap switch1926
timer1934
1892 E. J. Houston Dict. Electr. Words (ed. 2) 424/2 Pressel, a press switch or push connected to the end of a flexible, pendant conductor.
1988 D. Rees GCSE CDT—Design & Realisation vii. 51 (in figure) Press switch suitable for fitting in the base of a lamp or where ever convenient.
2003 St. John's (Newfoundland) Telegram (Nexis) 12 July A11 Punch the plates and line them up, flip the press switch and prepare to shake your entire world.
C2. In combination with adverbs forming adjectives with the sense ‘that can be pressed down, in, on’, etc.
ΚΠ
1903 Work 25 218/2 A treacle tin, washed out and dried, with a burner soldered in the press-in lid, will serve quite well if the experiments are conducted outside the house.
1963 Rep. Comm. Inq. Decimal Currency viii. 68 in Parl. Papers 1962–3 (Cmnd. 2145) 11 195 The two main groups of cash registers are the ‘press-in’ key type and the ‘press-down’ key type.
1975 B. Wood Killing Gift (1976) ii. i. 48 A vacuum jar with a press-on lid.
1992 Time 20 Apr. 101/3 The little girl who hesitates to field wearing her press-on nails.
C3.
† press barrel n. Nautical Obsolete a barrel filled with a heavy substance, used as a weight (see quot. 1794).
ΚΠ
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 55 Press-barrels are old tar-barrels filled with clay, and laid on the sledge or drag to add weight when the rope is closing.
1803 Naval Chron. 10 477 The [old] tar barrels..are applied to the purpose of serving as a weight in laying..rope, and are called press barrels.
press fit n. Engineering an interference fit between two parts in which one is forced under pressure into a slightly smaller hole in the other; cf. shrink fit n. at shrink v. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > [noun] > fit between parts
press fit1888
push fit1908
transition fit1919
1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. 265 Press fit, a fitting of contiguous parts slightly tighter than a sliding fit.., to allow of the sliding parts being pressed together with a hydraulic press.
1902 Internat. Libr. Technol. 3 §22. 33 In a press fit, the internal piece..must be enough larger than the hole to insure the development of enough friction between the two pieces to hold it there securely when pressed home.
1993 Super Bike Jan. 22/1 With the ZXR..the standard cam sprockets on both J and K models are a press-fit on the cams and cannot be adjusted.
press-fitted adj. Engineering fitted or held in place with a press fit.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > [adjective] > fit between parts
press-fitted1952
1952 H. Manley Non-destructive Testing iii. 22 The old L.M.S...developed a method for finding transverse fatigue cracks in axles under the hub of press-fitted wheels.
1992 Mech. Products & Tools July–Oct. 1285/1 Retains slip fitted parts with gaps up to 0–15mm and may be used to increase the strength of press-fitted parts.
press-key n. a control or switch similar to a piano key, operated by pressing the end.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > control(s) > [noun] > switch > types of
pin switch1865
limit switch1886
press-key1896
rocker switch1898
pressel switch1916
snap switch1926
toggle switch1938
microswitch1941
1896 Proc. Royal Soc. 60 172 On one side of the box there is a narrow slit through which the stud of the press-key projects.
1976 Gramophone Dec. 1092/1 Tape transport is controlled by an array of press-keys all fitted with a non-slip tread to prevent finger slip.
1999 Precision Toolmaker (Nexis) 1 July 9 In these new machines, there are no pushbuttons or presskeys.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

pressv.2

Brit. /prɛs/, U.S. /prɛs/
Forms: 1500s–1700s prest (past tense and past participle), 1500s– press.
Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: English prest , prest v.2
Etymology: Apparently inferred < prest, past tense and past participle of prest v.2, and reinforced by association with press v.1 (see below). Compare press money n., and later press n.3Apparently originally as past participle, and earliest in the form prest (compare quots. 1542 at sense 1a and 1569 at sense 1a), which could be interpreted as showing a syncopated form of the past participle of prest v.2 (compare e.g. cast , past tense and past participle of cast v.), but which could also (as interpreted here) show the past participle (or the past tense) of a verb press (compare drest , past tense and past participle of dress v.); hence ‘he was prest’ could be understood either as ‘he was prested’ or ‘he was pressed’. Probably partly as a result of this, and partly by semantic association with press v.1, the past participle and past tense spelling pressed arose, and likewise the present stem press.
1.
a. transitive. To compel (a person) to enlist in the army or navy; to force (a person) into military service; = impress v.2, prest v.2 1 (but with further development of the sense of compulsion, probably by association with press v.1 III.). Now historical.Quots. 1542 and 1569 may belong to prest v.2: see the note at the etymology.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)] > compel to enlist
prest1481
press1542
impress1598
imprest1645
lot1757
conscribe1806
conscript1813
draft1862
press-gang1899
to comb out1916
1542 T. Becon New Pollecye of Warre Prol. sig. B.ij The men, which wer prest to go vnto the warres, it is almoste incredible..what alacrite & quickenesse of spirite was in them.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 25 Euery Souldiour there prest should pay ten shillynges, and therevpon to be discharged from that voyage.
1578 Court Minute Bks. (Worshipful Company of Grocers) 11 Aug. I. f. 296 xv men which were pressed by this Company to serue in the Quenes Maties shipps.
1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine ii. ii. D ij O wife..if I had bene quiet, I had not bene prest... But come,..shut vp, for we must to the warres.
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne xx. xvi. 366 Men halfe naked, without strength or skill,..Late pressed foorth to warre, against their will.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xlvii. 137 Like Sonnes prest from an indulgent Father, they would come for a sad Vale.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The peaceful Peasant to the Wars is prest; The Fields lye fallow in inglorious Rest. View more context for this quotation
1709 S. Centlivre Busie Body ii. ii. 27 Let me catch ye no more Puppy-hunting about my Doors, lest I have you prest into the Service, Sirrah.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xvi. viii. 63 To contrive some Method of having him pressed and sent on board a Ship. View more context for this quotation
a1775 J. Campbell Lives Brit. Admirals (1779) III. xxi. 235 Our admirals were absolutely restrained from pressing men on any account in the West-Indies.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xvi. 273 He replied that he had been pressed out of an American ship, that he was an American born, and that he had never taken the bounty.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. §3. 485 Poor men who refused to lend were pressed into the army.
1893 J. H. Turner Hist. Brighouse 254 John Marsden who was lotted or pressed for a soldier in Wellington's time.
1936 Connellsville (Pa.) Daily Courier 2 July 7/4 Not until the end of the Sixteenth century were fishermen, watermen and mariners exempted by law from being pressed as soldiers.
1966 D. Sutherland Against Wind i. ii. 34 Because they were seafaring people, the islanders were in great demand for pressing into the Navy.
1991 P. O'Brian Nutmeg of Consol. (1993) i. 10 At least a third had been pressed into the Navy.
b. intransitive. To force a person into military service. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist soldiers [verb (intransitive)] > compel enlistment
pressa1625
a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. ii. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrr/1 Come, get your men together..And presse where please you, as you march.
1678 A. Marvell Acct. Growth Popery (new ed.) 43 The King is fain to press now.
1819 G. Crabbe Tales of Hall I. v. 94 Gangs came pressing till they swept the shore.
1901 Ld. Raglan in Westm. Gaz. 22 May 2/3 We pressed for the Navy until a time remembered by many present; we pressed for the Army until a much more recent period.
2. transitive. To seize authoritatively for royal, military, or public use; to requisition. Cf. impress v.2 b. Now rare except as merged with extended use at 4.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)] > by (public) authority > for public service
embarge1585
press1596
impress1749
embargo1755
1596 W. Raleigh Let. 4 May (1999) 141 Pope, the Marshall of the Admiraltye, can informe Master Burres for Pope prest all the shipps.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. xxiv. 251 To presse, and take up any the Boats, or Vessels, that are or shall bee within the compasse of your command.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 178 Saturday after noon the Cachef of Catie pressed our Camels to fetch wood from the Sea~side.
1698 J. Crowne Caligula i. 10 And all the Horses, in or near the Town, You press'd, to bring th' Imperial Treasures home.
1776 Jrnls. Continental Congr. 6 862 Resolved. That the quarter masters in every department be ordered to avoid pressing horses and carriages, as much as possible.
1813 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1838) X. 393 He was not authorised to press boats, yet he pressed at the British landing place boats which had been in our service two years.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 50 Wherever he came he pressed horses in defiance of law.
1892 M. O. Frost Regimental Hist. 10th Missouri Volunteer Infantry 29 There was a store here, owned by a secesh, and from him the boys pressed many articles into Union service.
1907 C. B. Winchester Let. to Editor (O.E.D. Archive) In British India to this day every executive officer when he moves camp ‘presses carts’ to obtain means for transporting his tents.
1942 Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio) 4 Aug. 7/3 Sheriff's officers and coast guardsmen pressed boats, and even an airplane, into service in a hunt for the vessel.
†3. transitive. To engage or enlist (a person) into service by part payment in advance; = prest v.2 2. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > enlistment or recruitment > enlist (soldiers) [verb (transitive)]
wagec1330
musterc1425
to take upc1425
prest1481
to call up1523
conscribe1548
enrol1576
matriculate1577
press1600
in list1604
list1643
recruita1661
enlist1699
crimp1789
to muster into service1834
book1843
induct1934
to read in1938
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxvi. xxxv. 610 When the Consuls could neither raise men enow, nor yet find monie..for to presse and hire them, and pay their wages withall.
4. transitive. figurative and in extended use (from sense 1). To force into service of any kind; to put (a person or thing) to a specified use, especially as a temporary or makeshift measure. Cf. impress v.2 c. Now frequently in to press into service.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > to or into an action or state
needeOE
driveOE
strainc1374
halec1400
plunge?c1400
thrust14..
pulla1425
put1425
compel1541
violent?1551
forcec1592
necessitate1629
oblige1632
dragoon1689
press1733
coercea1853
thirl1871
steamroller1959
arm-twist1964
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > use or make use of [verb (transitive)] > press into service
impress1657
enlist1699
to draw upon ——1800
requisition1871
to press into service1926
1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) iii. ii, in Wks. I. 43 Would we were eene prest, to make porters of; and serue out the remnant of our daies, in Thames-street.
1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) iii. ii. ii. i. 416 They presse and muster vp wenches as we doe souldiers.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man iii. 90 Reason..but serves when prest;..But honest Instinct comes a Volunteer.
1824 C. Lamb in London Mag. Nov. 482/1 The anecdote was pressed into the account of the family importance.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Ess. 1st Ser. iv. 85 In Thierry's well-known History..he is pressed into the service of that writer's peculiar theories.
1883 J. Gilmour Among Mongols xxvii. 322 The ‘shirt’ aforementioned..is pressed to do duty as a towel.
1926 Discovery June 191/2 Bait, such as a meal-worm, may be pressed into service to entice a bird on to some particular twig.
1978 K. J. Dover Greek Homosexuality ii. 97 If no living being with a suitable orifice is available..even the neck of a jar may be pressed into service.
1996 B. Duncan in P. Trynka Rock Hardware 79/2 Failing this, WEM's Dominator tube guitar amplifier..would be pressed into use.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.1lOEn.21405n.3?1592adj.?1611v.1c1330v.21542
随便看

　

英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。

　

Copyright © 2004-2022 Newdu.com All Rights Reserved
更新时间：2024/11/11 1:30:39