All 6 Uses of
oppress
in
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- …itself; for the county; for the State; for the State officers; for the United States; for the churches of the United States; for Congress; for the President; for the officers of the Government; for poor sailors, tossed by stormy seas; for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of European monarchies and Oriental despotisms; for such as have the light and the good tidings, and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear withal; for the heathen in the far islands of the sea; and…†
Chpt 5
- The boys talked little, and only under their breath, for the time and the place and the pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits.†
Chpt 9
- Tom's reflections grew oppressive.†
Chpt 9 *
- There was a brooding oppressiveness in the air that seemed to bode something.†
Chpt 16
- He tried to get Becky to talk, but her sorrows were too oppressive, all her hopes were gone.†
Chpt 31
- The boys began to quiet down to whispers, now, for the stillness and gloom of the place oppressed their spirits.†
Chpt 33
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