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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary op·press
\\ə-ˈpres\\ transitive verb ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Anglo-French oppresser, from Latin oppressus, past participle of opprimere, from ob- against + premere to press — more at ob- , press DATE 14th century 1.
a. archaic : suppress
b. to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority2. to burden spiritually or mentally : weigh heavily uponSynonyms: see wrong
• op·pres·sor \\-ˈpre-sər\\ noun oppress
mid-14c., from O.Fr. oppresser (13c.), from M.L. oppressare, freq. of L. opprimere "press against, crush" (in L.L. "to rape"), from ob "against" + premere "to press, push" (see press (v.1)).
"It is the due [external] restraint and not the moderation of rulers that constitutes a state of liberty; as the power to oppress, though never exercised, does a state of slavery." [St. George Tucker, "View of the Constitution of the United States," 1803]
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 oppressop·press / E5pres / verb [VN]1. to treat sb in a cruel and unfair way, especially by not giving them the same freedom, rights, etc. as other people 压迫；欺压；压制:
The regime is accused of oppressing religious minorities. 人们指控这个政权压迫少数宗教信徒。2. to make sb only able to think about sad or worrying things 压抑；使窒息；使烦恼:
The gloomy atmosphere in the office oppressed her. 办公室的低沉气氛使她感到郁闷。
SYN weigh down • op·pres·sion / E5preFn / noun [U] :
victims of oppression 受压迫者 oppress verb ⇨ discourage 2 (The gloomy atmosphere oppressed her.) ⇨ suppress 1 (oppressed people) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged op·press
\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
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