To make someone feel admiration or respect, or to have a strong effect on someone's mind or feelings.
From Latin 'impressus' (pressed into), from 'imprimere' (im- 'into' + premere 'to press'). The metaphor is of pressing a mark or stamp into something, so an impression is literally a mark left behind by force.
When you 'impress' someone, you're literally 'pressing' an image into their mind like a seal pressed into wax—which is why we still call it an 'impression.' The word perfectly captures how memorable moments physically change how we think!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.