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oppress

Pronunciation: /əˈprɛs/

Translate oppress | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of oppress

verb

[with object]

1keep (someone) in subjection and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority:a system which oppressed working people
cause distress or anxiety to:he was oppressed by some secret worry

2 Heraldryanother term for debruise.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French oppresser, from medieval Latin oppressare, from Latin oppress- 'pressed against', from the verb opprimere