opprĭmo (obp-), essi, essum, 3, v. a. [ob-premo], to press against, press together; to press down (class.; syn. obruo).
I Lit.: voluit deus ora loquentis Opprimere, to close , Ov. M. 3, 295: oculos, to press together , i. e. close the eyes , sc. of a dying person, Val. Max. 2, 6, 8: fauces manu, Suet. Calig. 12: flammam in ore, to repress , Enn. ap. Cic. de Or. 2, 54, 122 (Trag. v. 437 Vahl.).— To press down : taleam pede, to press into the ground , Cato R. R. 45; Plaut. Ps. 5, 1, 27: opprimi ruinā conclavis, to be crushed , Cic. Div. 2, 8, 20: terrā oppressus, id. ib. 2, 23, 51: classem, to sink , id. Imp. Pomp. 12, 33: senem injectu multae vestis, to smother , stifle , Tac. A. 6, 50; so, dormiens oppressit eum, Vulg. 3 Reg. 3, 19; Varr. R. R. 2, 4, 14.—
B Transf.: oppressit jaculo redeuntem ad frena leonem, struck down , Val. Fl. 3, 24.—
II Trop.
A To press together; to close , shut : os opprime, shut your mouth! hold your tongue! Plaut. As. 3, 2, 40; Ter. Phorm. 986.—
B To press or bear down : opprimi onere, Cic. Rosc. Am. 4.—
C To put down , suppress , quell , check , quash : quae oratio a censore opprimenda est, Cic. Fin. 2, 10, 30: sine tumultu rem omnem oppressere, Liv. 2, 4: tumultum, id. 31, 11: fraudem, to baffle , thwart , id. 26, 6; Vulg. Lev. 24, 16.—
D To overthrow , overwhelm , crush , overpower , prostrate , subdue : reliquias hujus belli, Cic. Fam. 10, 20, 3: Graeciam, Nep. Them. 8, 2: nationem, Cic. Font. 12, 36: invidiam acerbitate, Nep. Dion. 6: libertatem, to put an end to , destroy , id. Alcib. 3, 3: ut exstinctae potius amicitiae, quam oppressae esse videantur, Cic. Lael. 21, 78: aliquem iniquo judicio, id. Quint. 2, 7: intolerandam potentiam, to overthrow , id. Rosc. Am. 13, 36: aliquem, to crush one with false accusations, Liv. 2, 52; cf.: insontem oblato falso crimine, id. 1, 51: quaestionem, id. 26, 15: si oppressa foret secura senectus (i. e. securus senex), Juv. 10, 75: litteras, to utter indistinctly , to mumble , Cic. Off. 1, 37, 133.—In gen., to have the upper hand , get the best of it , be victorious , Plaut. Mil. 4, 5, 10.—
E To load , overwhelm , bear down , overcome : opprimi aere alieno, Cic. Cat. 2, 4, 8: mvidiā, id. ib. 2, 2, 4: totius corporis doloribus, id. Fam. 9, 14, 3: metu, Liv. 24, 33: timore, Caes. B. G. 4, 15: senatus oppressus et afflictus, Cic. Red. in Sen. 7, 18.—
F To fall upon , surprise , take by surprise , come upon unexpectedly , seize , catch (syn.: adorior, invado): occasionem opprimere, to seize , embrace , Plaut. As. 2, 2, 15: imprudentem, Ter. And. 227: incautos, Liv. 26, 12: Antonium mors oppressit, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 91, § 213: ne subito a me opprimantur (sc. interrogando), id. ib. 2, 4, 67, § 150: oppressi luce copias instruunt, Auct. B. G. 8, 14: rostra, to make one's self master of , occupy , Cic. Clu. 40, 110.—
G To bury , hide , conceal , suppress : quod quo studiosius ab ipsis opprimitur et absconditur, eo magis eminet et apparet, Cic. Rosc. Am. 41, 121: iram, Sall. J. 72, 1: ita ejus rei oppressa mentio est, Liv. 23, 22: infamiam, Just. 12, 13, 10. —
H To force a woman, commit a rape upon (late Lat.), Vulg. 2 Reg. 13, 12; 14, 32; id. Gen. 34, 2; id. Ezech. 2, 2; 11.