All 3 Uses of
oppress
in
Persuasion
- The nights were too dark for the ladies to meet again till the morrow, but Captain Harville had promised them a visit in the evening; and he came, bringing his friend also, which was more than had been expected, it having been agreed that Captain Benwick had all the appearance of being oppressed by the presence of so many strangers.†
Chpt 11
- Anne felt an instant oppression, and wherever she looked saw symptoms of the same.†
Chpt 22 *
- She could not immediately have uttered another sentence; her heart was too full, her breath too much oppressed.†
Chpt 23
Definition:
-
(oppress as in: oppressive government) to dominate harshly and unfairly; or to make sufferThe meaning of oppress depends upon its context. For example:
- "The authorities oppress political activists," or "The new nation oppressed Native Americans." -- to dominate harshly and unfairly
- "She is oppressed by excessive debt." - made to suffer