oppress

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To treat a group of people in a cruel and unfair way, keeping them down by force or authority.

   The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.

2. 2
   verb

   To make someone feel very sad, worried, or weighed down.

   We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.

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.

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