KJV Dictionary Definition: oppress

oppress

OPPRESS', v.t. L. appressus, from opprimo; ob and premo, to press.

1. To load or burden with unreasonable impositions; to treat with unjust severity, rigor or hardship; as, to oppress a nation with taxes or contributions; to oppress one by compelling him to perform unreasonable service.

2. To overpower; to overburden; as, to be oppressed with grief.

3. to sit or lie heavy on; as, excess of good oppresses the stomach.

oppressed

OPPRESS'ED, pp. burdened with unreasonable impositions; overpowered; overburdened; depressed.

oppressing

OPPRESS'ING, ppr. Overburdening.

oppression

OPPRES'SION, n.

1. The act of oppressing; the imposition of unreasonable burdens, either in taxes or services; cruelty; severity.

2. The state of being oppressed or overburdened; misery.

the Lord - saw the oppression of Israel. 2Kings. 8.

3. Hardship; calamity.

4. Depression; dullness of spirits; lassitude of body.

5. A sense of heaviness or weight in the breast, &c.

oppressive

OPPRESS'IVE, a.

1. Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe; as oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service.

2. Tyrannical; as an oppressive government.

3. Heavy; overpowering; overwhelming; as oppressive grief or woe.

oppressively

OPPRESS'IVELY, adv. In a manner to oppress; with unreasonable severity.

oppressiveness

OPPRESS'IVENESS, n. The quality of being oppressive.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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