All 40 Uses of
oppress
in
The Odyssey by Homer - (translated by: Pope)
- But grief and rage alternate wound my breast For brave Ulysses, still by fate oppress'd.†
Book 1
- (Replied the Thunderer to the martial maid;) Deem not unjustly by my doom oppress'd, Of human race the wisest and the best.†
Book 1
- Now, imaged in his mind, he sees restored In peace and joy the people's rightful lord; The proud oppressors fly the vengeful sword.†
Book 1 *
- With tender pity touch'd, the goddess cried: "Soon may kind Heaven a sure relief provide, Soon may your sire discharge the vengeance due, And all your wrongs the proud oppressors rue!†
Book 1
- By him and all the immortal thrones above (A sacred oath), each proud oppressor slain, Shall with inglorious gore this marble stain.†
Book 1
- The wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress'd, And chilling horrors freeze in every breast, Till big with knowledge of approaching woes, The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose: Prescient he view'd the aerial tracks, and drew A sure presage from every wing that flew.†
Book 2
- Let tyrants govern with an iron rod, Oppress, destroy, and be the scourge of God; Since he who like a father held his reign, So soon forgot, was just and mild in vain!†
Book 2
- Drowsy they rose, with heavy fumes oppress'd, Reel'd from the palace, and retired to rest.†
Book 2
- Of this to learn, oppress'd with tender fears, Lo, at thy knee his suppliant son appears.†
Book 3
- Or darling son, oppress'd by ruffian force, Fell breathless at his feet, a mangled corse; From morn to eve, impassive and serene, The man entranced would view the dreadful scene These drugs, so friendly to the joys of life.†
Book 4
- The troop forth-issuing from the dark recess, With homicidal rage the king oppress!†
Book 4
- The wandering chief with toils on toils oppress'd, Leucothea saw, and pity touch'd her breast.†
Book 5
- She feels the triumph of a generous breast; To heal divisions, to relieve the oppress'd; In virtue rich; in blessing others, bless'd.†
Book 7
- The nobles gaze, with awful fear oppress'd; Silent they gaze, and eye the godlike guest.†
Book 7
- Alas, a mortal! most oppress'd of those Whom Fate has loaded with a weight of woes; By a sad train of Miseries alone Distinguish'd long, and second now to none!†
Book 7
- Does any mortal, in the unguarded hour Of sleep, oppress thee, or by fraud or power?†
Book 9
- Thus they; the Cyclop from his den replies: " 'Friends, Noman kills me; Noman in the hour Of sleep, oppresses me with fraudful power.'†
Book 9
- Then first my eyes, by watchful toils oppress'd, Complied to take the balmy gifts of rest: Then first my hands did from the rudder part (So much the love of home possess'd my heart): When lo! on board a fond debate arose; What rare device those vessels might inclose?†
Book 10
- "Now to the shores we bend, a mournful train, Climb the tall bark, and launch into the main; At once the mast we rear, at once unbind The spacious sheet, and stretch it to the wind; Then pale and pensive stand, with cares oppress'd, And solemn horror saddens every breast.†
Book 11
- Say while the sea, and while the tempest raves, Has Fate oppress'd thee in the roaring waves, Or nobly seized thee in the dire alarms Of war and slaughter, and the clash of arms?'†
Book 11
- "The ghost returns: 'O chief of human kind For active courage and a patient mind; Nor while the sea, nor while the tempest raves Has Fate oppress'd me on the roaring waves!†
Book 11
- Straight to my anxious thoughts the sound convey'd The words of Circe and the Theban shade; Warn'd by their awful voice these shores to shun, With cautious fears oppress'd I thus begun: " 'O friends!†
Book 12
- And long-continued ways, and winding floods, And unknown mountains, crown'd with unknown woods Pensive and slow, with sudden grief oppress'd, The king arose, and beat his careful breast, Cast a long look o'er all the coast and main, And sought, around, his native realm in vain; Then with erected eyes stood fix'd in woe, And as he spoke, the tears began to flow.†
Book 13
- But he, the power to whose all-seeing eyes The deeds of men appear without disguise, 'tis his alone to avenge the wrongs I bear; For still the oppress'd are his peculiar care.†
Book 13
- The swain replied: "It never was our guise To slight the poor, or aught humane despise: For Jove unfold our hospitable door, 'tis Jove that sends the stranger and the poor, Little, alas! is all the good I can A man oppress'd, dependent, yet a man: Accept such treatment as a swain affords, Slave to the insolence of youthful lords!†
Book 14
- Ere the next moon increase or this decay, His ancient realms Ulysses shall survey, In blood and dust each proud oppressor mourn, And the lost glories of his house return.†
Book 14
- Such end the wicked found! but Jove's intent Was yet to save the oppress'd and innocent.†
Book 14
- Care unseal'd his eyes: Restless he grieved, with various fears oppress'd, And all thy fortunes roll'd within his breast.†
Book 15
- Whilst yet the monarch paused, with doubts oppress'd The beauteous queen relieved his labouring breast: "Hear me (she cried), to whom the gods have given To read this sign, and mystic sense of heaven, As thus the plumy sovereign of the air Left on the mountain's brow his callow care, And wander'd through the wide ethereal way To pour his wrath on yon luxurious prey; So shall thy godlike father, toss'd in vain Through all the dangers of the boundless main, Arrive (or if perchance…†
Book 15
- (and soon appear He shall, I trust; a hero scorns despair:) Might he return, I yield my life a prey To my worst foe, if that avenging day Be not their last: but should I lose my life, Oppress'd by numbers in the glorious strife, I chose the nobler part, and yield my breath, Rather than bear dishonor, worse than death; Than see the hand of violence invade The reverend stranger and the spotless maid; Than see the wealth of kings consumed in waste, The drunkard's revel, and the gluttons'…†
Book 16
- The smiling queen the happy omen bless'd: "So may these impious fall, by Fate oppress'd!"†
Book 17
- Heavens! could a stranger feel oppression's hand Beneath thy roof, and couldst thou tamely stand!†
Book 18
- That yon proud suitors, who licentious tread These courts, within these courts like Irus bled: Whose loose head tottering, as with wine oppress'd, Obliquely drops, and nodding knocks his breast; Powerless to move, his staggering feet deny The coward wretch the privilege to fly."†
Book 18
- In wavy gold thy summer vales are dress'd; Thy autumns bind with copious fruit oppress'd: With flocks and herds each grassy plain is stored; And fish of every fin thy seas afford: Their affluent joys the grateful realms confess; And bless the power that still delights to bless, Gracious permit this prayer, imperial dame!†
Book 19
- Their drooping eyes the slumberous shade oppress'd, Sated they rose, and all retired to rest.†
Book 19
- Constrain'd, the choicest beeves I thence import, To cram these cormorants that crowd his court: Who in partition seek his realm to share; Nor human right nor wrath divine revere, Since here resolved oppressive these reside, Contending doubts my anxious heart divide: Now to some foreign clime inclined to fly, And with the royal herd protection buy; Then, happier thoughts return the nodding scale, Light mounts despair, alternate hopes prevail: In opening prospects of ideal joy, My king…†
Book 20
- To whom the queen: "If fame engage your views, Forbear those acts which infamy pursues; Wrong and oppression no renown can raise; Know, friend! that virtue is the path to praise.†
Book 21
- Oh! could the vigour of this arm as well The oppressive suitors from my walls expel!†
Book 21
- The hero stands oppress'd with mighty woe, On every side he sees the labour grow; "Oh cursed event! and oh unlook'd for aid!†
Book 22
- Smit with the signs which all his doubts explain, His heart within him melt; his knees sustain Their feeble weight no more: his arms alone Support him, round the loved Ulysses thrown; He faints, he sinks, with mighty joys oppress'd: Ulysses clasps him to his eager breast.†
Book 24
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