imprest noun & adjective. ['ɪmprɛst] M16.
[from IM-¹ + PREST noun¹, prob. partly after in prest (see PREST noun¹), though im- appears in medieval Latin cognates (cf. IMPREST verb¹). See also IMPRESS noun⁴.]
A. noun.
1. Money advanced to a person for use in State business. Formerly also, advance pay for those in military and naval service. M16.

2. gen. An advance, a loan. L17.
■ J. le Carrè He..lavished a sizable part of our secret imprest on encouraging more breeds of trout.

Comb.:
imprest system Commerce a system under which a person is advanced a fixed sum of money to meet expenses and at the end of a definite period is advanced a further sum equal to the amount spent, so as to restore the float to the original amount.
B. adjective. Of money: lent or paid in advance, esp. to those in military, naval, or public service. L16-M18.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

imprest verb¹ trans.M16.
[from Italian & medieval Latin imprestare lend, advance as an imprest, formed as IM-¹ + Latin praestare furnish, (in medieval Latin) lend, rel. to praesto at hand, within reach.]
1. Advance or lend (money). M16-E19.

2. Draw (a bill etc.) upon an account or a person. E-M17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

imprest verb² trans.M17-E18.
[from pa. pple of IMPRESS verb², perh. also confused with IMPREST verb¹.]
Impress for the army or navy.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲