opprimo Latin · revision 18158

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *pr-es-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɔp.prɪ.moː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɔp.pri.mo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''opprimō''' (present infinitive opprimere, perfect active oppressī, supine oppressum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''obprimō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Plautus has the short form ''oppresset'' for ''oppressisset''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|ob-|premō|t1=against|t2=to press]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|premō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*pres-]] and [[ine-pro|*pr-es-|t=to press]]; its present stem ⟨prem-⟩ was probably made on the model of [[m|la|tremō|t=to tremble]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citation is Plautus, of a breast being squeezed (''ubi mammia mammicula opprimitur'').^(OLD 2012) Cato has ''pede tāleam opprimitō'', “press the cutting down with your foot”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Opprimere'' is “to press on, squeeze”, and Ovid uses it of closing the mouth.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is “to smother, stifle” (Varro of a piglet crushed by the sow), “to bury, overwhelm”, and of sleep or wine “to overpower” (Terence: ''somnus virginem opprimit'', “sleep overcomes the girl”).^(OLD 2012) In war it is “to crush” troops or take a place by storm, and “to take by surprise, catch unawares”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also “to put an end to, suppress” a conspiracy, a state of affairs or a feeling.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “oppress, overwhelm, crush, press down”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|oppress]] (late 14th century) comes from its participle through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''ubi mammia mammicula opprimitur''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''pede tāleam opprimitō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''somnus virginem opprimit''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|oppress]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To press on, squeeze; to press down, close.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To smother, [[m|en|stifle]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To bury, [[m|en|overwhelm]]; to overpower (of sleep or wine).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To crush (troops); to take by storm.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To [[m|en|suppress]], put an end to.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To take by [[m|en|surprise]], catch unawares.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|oppress]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oppressiō]]

+ * [[oppressor]]

+ * [[oppressus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[premō]]

+ * [[en|oppress]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}