oppressive

[Fr. oppre if; Sp. opresivo; Ital. oppre ivo.] 1. Unreasonably or unjustly severe, rigorous, burdensome, or harsh. "However oppre ive a game law may be, the transition is but too easy from a poacher to a murderer."- Ma caulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. xxi. IMG:content-0324.png:[blocks in formation] "To ease the soul of one oppre ive weight." Pope: Moral E ays, i. 105. õp-prěs'-sive-lý, adv. -ly.] In an oppre ive manner; with unreasonable or unjust severity, rigor, or harshne . "Her [France] taxes are more injudiciously and more oppre ively imposed."- Burke : On a Late State of the Nation . õp-prěs-sive-ne , s. [Eng. oppre ive; -ne .] The quality or state of being oppre ive.