Definitions for oppressəˈprɛs

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

op•pressəˈprɛs(v.t.)

to govern or manage with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; exercise harsh authority or power over.
to lie heavily upon (the mind, a person, etc.); weigh down.
Archaic. to put down; subdue or suppress.

Origin of oppress:

1300–50; < MF oppresser < ML oppressāre, der. of L oppressus, ptp. of opprimere to squeeze, suffocate =op-op-+primere (comb. form of premere to press1

op•pres′sor(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

oppress, suppress, crush(verb)
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
"The government oppresses political activists"
persecute, oppress(verb)
cause to suffer
"Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

oppress(verb)əˈprɛs
to treat people unfairly by preventing them from having freedom
invaders that have oppressed the native people for centuries

Wiktionary

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

Origin: From oppressen, from oppresser, from oppressare, frequentive of opprimere, past participle oppressus, from ob + premere, past participle pressus; see press.