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Oppress
Definitions
- 1 Oppression. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 1 To keep down by unjust force. transitive
"The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners."
- 2 come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority wordnet
- 3 To make sad or gloomy. transitive
"We were oppressed by the constant grey skies."
- 4 cause to suffer wordnet
- 5 Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush. obsolete, transitive
"Most mercilesse of women, VVyden hight, / Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse, / And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse."
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- 6 To sexually violate; to rape. obsolete, transitive
Etymology
From Middle English oppressen, from Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare (“to press against, oppress”), frequentative of Latin opprimere, past participle oppressus (“to press against, press together, oppress”), from ob (“against”) + premere, past participle pressus (“to press”); see press.
From Middle English oppressen, from Old French oppresser, from Medieval Latin oppressare (“to press against, oppress”), frequentative of Latin opprimere, past participle oppressus (“to press against, press together, oppress”), from ob (“against”) + premere, past participle pressus (“to press”); see press.
See also for "oppress"
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