The English word "oppress" is spelled with two p's to reflect its pronunciation. In International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it is transcribed as /əˈprɛs/. The first syllable is unstressed and pronounced with a schwa vowel sound. The second syllable is stressed, and the vowel sound is a short "e". The double "p" makes the pronunciation of the word clear and helps distinguish it from similar words like "oppose" or "suppress". The word "oppress" means to unfairly and cruelly control or treat someone or a group of people.
To oppress means to subject someone to unjust and severe treatment, exploitation, or domination, typically with the intention of exercising control, power, or authority over them. It involves suppressing the rights, freedom, or dignity of an individual or group, often through the use of physical force, psychological manipulation, or restrictive policies.
When one oppresses others, they systematically limit their opportunities and hinder their ability to thrive in various aspects of life. This can include infringing upon their civil liberties, restricting their access to resources, denying them basic human rights, or marginalizing them within society. Oppression can be perpetuated based on factors such as race, gender, sexuality, religion, social class, or political affiliation.
Those who oppress may exert their control through coercive measures, intimidation, discrimination, or by maintaining structural inequalities that benefit certain groups while disadvantaging others. Such actions create an environment where the oppressed individuals or communities are deprived of autonomy and are unable to challenge or resist the oppressive forces.
Oppression is often regarded as an abusive exercise of power that fosters a climate of inequality, social injustice, and systemic discrimination. It is crucial to recognize and address issues of oppression to promote equality, justice, and the protection of human rights. Societies strive to create inclusive and equitable environments where individuals can live without fear of oppression and are able to exercise their freedoms and pursue their full potential.
To treat with unjust rigour, severity, or hardship; to overburden; to sit or lie heavily on.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "oppress" originated from the Latin root "opprimere", which is a combination of the prefix "ob-" (meaning against) and the verb "premere" (meaning to press). Over time, "opprimere" evolved into "oppressus" in Late Latin, and eventually reached Old French as "oppressor" in the 14th century. It then entered Middle English as "oppressen", eventually becoming the word we know today as "oppress" in Modern English. The term carries the original meaning of exerting force, weight, or pressure against something or someone, often implying a sense of cruelty or unjust treatment.