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Added 9 October 2026

oppress

/əˈpɹɛs/ verb

In Latin: opprimō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about oppress at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To keep down by unjust force.
The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
To make sad or gloomy.
We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.
Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.

noun

Oppression.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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