dē-prĭmo, pressi, pressum, 3, v. a. [premo], to press down, weigh down, sink down, to depress (freq. and class.).
I Lit.
A In gen.: vis venti nubem deprimit, Lucr. 6, 432: qui (Critolaus) tantum propendere illam lancem putet, ut terram et maria deprimat, Cic. Tusc. 5, 17 fin. ; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 92: deprimi in tenebras, id. Fragm. ap. Lact. 3, 19: ad mentum depresso supercilio, Cic. Pis. 6 fin. : animus caelestis ex altissimo domicilio depressus et quasi demersus in terram, id. de Sen. 21, 77: depresso aratro (sc. in terram), Verg. G. 1, 45 et saep.— Absol. : haec quae porto deprimunt, Plaut. Merc. 4, 1, 9.—
B In partic.
1 To sink deep , as a plant, a well, etc.; to plant deep, to dig deep : vites in terram, Cato R. R. 32 fin. ; cf. Plin. 14, 1, 3, § 10: plantas, Col. 11, 3, 28 et saep.: qui tollit aedificium, vel deprimit, Dig. 8, 2, 17, § 2: saxum in mirandam altitudinem depressum, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 27; cf.: valle in altitudinem depressa, Hirt. B. G. 8, 9, 2: locus circiter duodecim pedes humi depressus, Sall. C. 55, 3: fossam, Hirt. B. G. 8, 40, 3; Tac. A. 15, 42: deprimere vel allevare rivum, Dig. 8, 4, 11 et saep.—
2 Naut. t. t., to sink to the bottom, to sink , sc. a ship: partem navium, Caes. B. C. 1, 58 fin. : naves, id. ib. 2, 6 fin. ; 2, 7; Nep. Con. 4, 4: lenunculos, Caes. B. C. 2, 43 fin. : carinam, Ov. M. 14, 185; Tac. H. 4, 79: classis superata atque depressa, Cic. de imp. Pomp. 8, 21 et saep. —
II Trop.
A To press down, depress : animus depressus, Lucr. 6, 53: vos, gemi nae voragines scopulique reipublicae, vos meam fortunam deprimitis? vestram extollitis? (a figure borrowed from the sinking of a ship, v. supra, no. I. B. 2), Cic. Pis. 18; cf.: improbitate depressa veritas emergit, id. Clu. 65, 183: ita se quisque extollit, ut deprimat alium, Liv. 3, 65 fin. ; cf. id. 30, 36; Plin. Pan. 44, 6 et saep.: preces, to suppress, silence , Nep. Att. 22, 2: nunc quid elocutio attollat aut deprimat dicendum, Quint. 8, 3 fin. : depressus in ludum, i. e. pressed, forced , Asin. Pollio ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 32, 3.—
B Esp., to depreciate in words, disparage (cf. depretio): adversariorum causam per contemptionem deprimere, Auct. Her. 1, 5, 8; Cic. Inv. 1, 16, 22.—
C To oppress (late Lat.): populum, Vulg. 2 Esdr. 5, 15.
X —Hence, dēpressus , a, um, P. a.
A Lit., pressed down, i. e. deep, lying low, depressed (perh. only post-Aug.): humilius et depressius iter, Plin. Ep. 9, 26, 2: aquaeductus depressior, Front. Aquaed. 65: depresso loco castra ponere, id. Strat. 1, 5, 24.—
B Transf., of the voice, low, suppressed : quam sedatissima et depressissima vox, Auct. Her. 3, 14.—Adv.: dēpressē , deeply; pos. not found.— Comp. : fodere, quo depressius aestivos specus foderint, Sen. Cons. ad Helv. 9, 2: pastinare, Col. 11, 3, 10.