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imprest

1
[ im-prest ]
/ ˈɪm prɛst /
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noun
an advance of money; loan.
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Origin of imprest

1
First recorded in 1560–70; probably noun use of obsolete verb imprest “to advance money to,” from Italian imprestare, from Medieval Latin imprestāre “to lend,” from Latin im- prefix + praestāre “to tender, offer, present”; influenced in sense by praes, stem praed- “guarantor, one acting as surety”; see im-1, pre-; see origin at stand

Other definitions for imprest (2 of 3)

imprest2
[ im-prest ]
/ ɪmˈprɛst /

verb Archaic.
simple past tense and past participle of impress1.

Other definitions for imprest (3 of 3)

imprest3
[ im-prest ]
/ ɪmˈprɛst /

verb Archaic.
simple past tense and past participle of impress2.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imprest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imprest

imprest
/ (ɪmˈprɛst) /

noun
a fund of cash from which a department or other unit pays incidental expenses, topped up periodically from central funds
mainly British an advance from government funds for the performance of some public business or service
British (formerly) an advance payment of wages to a sailor or soldier

Word Origin for imprest

C16: probably from Italian imprestare to lend, from Latin in- towards + praestāre to pay, from praestō at hand; see presto
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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