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.
For thee, oppressèd king, am I cast down. Shak.
Behold the kings of the earth; how they oppress
Thy chosen! Milton.
2. To ravish; to violate. Chaucer.
3. To put down; to crush out; to suppress.
The mutiny he there hastes to oppress. Shak.
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.