əˈpres transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English oppressen, from Middle French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare, from Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere to press down, from ob- + -primere (from premere to press) — more at press
1.
a. archaic : to put down : suppress , quell
b. : to crush, burden, or trample down by or as if by abuse of power or authority : treat with unjust vigor or with cruelty
rulers that oppress the people
2.
a. : to burden spiritually or mentally as if by pressure : weigh heavily upon : weigh down
oppressed by a sense of failure
oppressed by prolonged sultry weather
b. obsolete : harass , distress
3. archaic
a. : to press upon with physical violence : injure by physical pressure : crush , trample
b. : to overpower in or as if in battle : overwhelm by numbers
c. : overcome — used of sleep, death, or other vital phenomena
4. obsolete
a. : to take unawares
b. : rape , ravish
Synonyms: see depress , wrong