oppress
pronunciation
How to pronounce oppress in British English:
UK [əˈpres]
How to pronounce oppress in American English:
US [əˈpres]
-
- Verb:
- come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
- cause to suffer
Word Origin
- oppress
- oppress: see press
- oppress (v.)
- mid-14c., from Old French opresser "oppress, afflict; torment, smother" (13c.), from Medieval Latin oppressare, frequentative of Latin opprimere "press against, press together, press down;" figuratively "crush, put down, subdue, prosecute relentlessly" (in Late Latin "to rape"), from ob "against" (see ob-) + 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] Related: Oppressed; oppressing.
Example
- 1. In both books the elite uses power to oppress , not enlighten .
- 2. States ' rights " and federalism was the banner under which local elites in the south could oppress african-americans , both before and after the civil war .
- 3. Tyrants oppress , beat , and torture all . We know .
- 4. Do not the rich oppress you , and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats ?
- 5. He allowed no man to oppress them ; for their sake he rebuked kings .