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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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oppressed \oppressed\ adj.
having excessive or unfair burdens imposed.

Syn: downtrodden, persecuted.
[WordNet 1.5 PJC]