Oppress

o-pres′, v.t. to pre against or upon: to use severely: to burden: to lie heavy upon: to constrain: to overpower: to treat unjustly: to load with heavy burdens.— n. Oppre ′ion , act of oppre ing or treating unjustly or harshly: severity: cruelty: state of being oppre ed: misery: hardship: injustice: dullne of spirits: ( Shak. ) pre ure.— adj. Oppre ′ive , tending to oppre : overburdensome: treating with severity or injustice: heavy: overpowering: difficult to bear.— adv. Oppre ′ively .— ns. Oppre ′ivene ; Oppre ′or , one who oppre es. [Fr.,—L. opprimĕre , oppre um — ob , against, premĕre , to pre .]