Oppressing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Oppress \Op*press"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Oppressed}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Oppressing}.] [F. oppresser, LL. oppressare, fr. L.
     oppressus, p. p. of opprimere; ob (see {Ob-}) + premere to
     press. See {Press}.]
     1. To impose excessive burdens upon; to overload; hence, to
        treat with unjust rigor or with cruelty. --Wyclif.


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              For thee, oppress[`e]d king, am I cast down. --Shak.
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              Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppress
              Thy chosen!                           --Milton.
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     2. To ravish; to violate. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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     3. To put down; to crush out; to suppress. [Obs.]
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              The mutiny he there hastes to oppress. --Shak.
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     4. To produce a sensation of weight in (some part of the
        body); as, my lungs are oppressed by the damp air; excess
        of food oppresses the stomach.
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