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oppression (c.1195)

oppression (c.1195)

oppresion,  oppresioun,  oppressione,  oppressioun,  oppressiun,  opression  
  FEW:  opprimere 7,377a Gdf:  oppression 5,609c GdfC:  oppression 10,236a TL: opressïon 6,1158 DEAF:  opresser (opressïon)  DMF:  oppression  TLF:  oppression  OED:  oppression n.  MED:  oppressioun n.  DMLBS:  oppressio 2037a

The literal sense of the word, related to ‘to bury or submerge (under enormous mass), to crush’ (cf. DMLBS opprimere 2037b) is rare.

s.

1crushing, squashing
( 1388 )  quedam Massa terre ibidem cecidit supra quondem hominem et ipsum oppressit etc., par case de quel oppression il morust etc.  YBB 12 Rich II 20
2harassment, troubling, burdening
( c.1195; MS: s.xiii4/4 )  (the prior) mult lui (=the knight who wants to visit purgatory) dist e sermona K'il leissast ço ke il pensa: Trop i a grant oppressiun D'aler en tel perdiciun  Purg S Pat MARIE 571
oppression, ill-treatment (by abuse of power)
( 1326-27 )  les queux justices ount pris raunceons et fyns des taxours et autres par colour de lour commissions, en grant oppression et empoverissement de eux (=the people)  Stats i 256
( 1392-93 )  extorcions, oppresions, excesses et autres trespaces queconques  King’s Council Ireland 84
( a.1399; MS: a.1399 )  William Wykam, evesqe de Wyncestre, [...] ad fait plusours defautes par ses escriptez en prejudice et damage et vilanye al roy et a soun roialme et oppressione de soun pople  Anon Chr1 96.11-12
( 1435 )  le Roy [...] voudra, par le plesir de Dieu, les (=his Norman subjects) relever des opressions  Lett Rois 429

[gdw]

See also:

apression  oppreindre  oppress1  oppresse1  oppresser  oppressour  opprimer 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
oppression