Middle English Dictionary Entry
oppressiǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | oppressiǒun n. Also opression, opreciun & appression, apprecioun. |
| Etymology | OF opressïon |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Blows, beating; (b) smothering; (c) rape; (d) an oppressive or tyrannical act of a ruler, official, or other powerful person against the people; esp. the extortion of money or other property; also, oppressive conduct or treatment; don oppressioun(es, to be oppressive; (e) injury, harm; cruel treatment; fierce attack; (f) an affliction; suffering; (g) suppression of the influence of a planet; (h) mortification of the flesh.
Associated quotations
a
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)13a/a : A gristil was mad..þat in þe tyme of..oppressioun [Lanfranc Latin 169a/a: percussionis], þe neische lymes schulden not be hurt of þe harde.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)22b/b : Þe eere..is grustely..for it schulde be þe stidefaster to be born vp & ȝitt neþeles in tyme of oppressioun þat it myȝte be y-folden.
b
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)80/25 : Ȝif a childe withoute oppression of the modur and withoute hure knowligynge dye sodeynly in cradle or in bedde, enioyne to the woman v yere of penaunce.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.889 : By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed For which oppressioun [vr. apprecioun]..dampned was this knyght.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1868 : Men may see and here The horryble dede of hir oppressyoun.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1754 : How was þe tribe also of beniamyn Punysshid..ffor aduoutre..In þe abhomynable oppressioun Of þe leuytes wyfe.
d
- (1334) RParl.2.376b : Remedy may be had against oppressions of the Clergy for Probates of Wills and Citations for trifles.
- (1386) RParl.FM (C&D)34/5 : [T]o the moost noble & Worthiest Lordes..compleynen..the folk of the Mercerye..of many wronges subtiles & also open oppressions ydo to hem.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1990 : With inne thyn hous ne be thow no leoun; To thy subgitz do noon oppressioun [vrr. oppressyouns, opression].
- (1399) RParl.3.452b : Some men..have taken mych more by extorsion and oppression of the Kynges poeple..then all the remenaunt of her owne lyvelod.
- (1447) RParl.5.139b : Diverse oppressions and extortions ben done..by colour of taking of mennes Catell.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2513 : Iustice deffendeth possessions, And peple kepeþ from appressions.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2541 : Ministres to seelde hem wel gouerne; Oppressioun regneth in euery herne.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)909 : Grete men of rycchesse And men of myght..Shuld to the pore doo none oppressione.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)270 : How may thou suffre such oppressyoun, That Falshed shuld haue iurysdixioun In Trouthes ryght, to sle him giltles?
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.4 : Þenne gan thei [Roman emperors] for to vsen cruelte And regne by rigour and by tyrannye In sore oppressioun of þe comynalte.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)220/9 : Fals extorsion and oppressyon of innocente folke.
- (1451) Paston2.527 : Be..appressions and extorcions was the Prior..compellid to yeven Ser T. Todenham a fee of xl s. a yere.
- (1461) RParl.5.495a : The seid Ordenaunces, to the uttermost undoyng of the seid Shirrefs..causeth theym to doo grete oppression and injurye to youre seid Suppliauntes.
- (1464) RParl.5.508b : The seid Marchauntes be entreted and demeaned..withoute oppression to be doon to the Marchauntes.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.8a : Grete abhomynable Murdres, Robberies, Extorcions, Oppressions..been committed..by such persones as..been of grete myght.
- (1472-5) RParl.6.156b : Surveyers and Correctours of..Vitelers..doo many and dyvers extortions and oppressions amonge your Liege people.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7874 : Ryhtwysnesse..techeth..that..He..Ne do no maner tyranye, Oppressyoun, nor robberye.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.219 : They were borne to have liberte, and not to suffre oppression [Trev.: cruelnesse; L ferociam] of princes.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)318 : Oppressyon, or ouer ledynge: Oppressio.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)58/26 : The cursyng of the people rightfully geue by sufferyng of grete oppression may cause bifor God many euyll aventuris for to fall.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)180/27 : Alle þat pasith justyse is but oppression..Þe lordis be feid folk born vppe with money..Sogettis be seruauntis þat justise hath subdwyd.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)197/28 : He..repreuyd þe kyng of his mys þat he dydde aȝeyne holy chyrch and of appressyon of þe reme.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)183/8 : Thus did this Prynce Dermot hym-Selfe and al othyr Prynces of his Nacion in lond for euer encombre by oppressyon.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)108/27 : He shal..shewe hym to be..profytable to þe, in oppressioun of þy subgitz.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)585 : Poetis of old fablis have contryvid..Vndir covert tyrauntis eeke reprevid Ther oppressiouns & malis to chastise.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.88 : Do no violence Vn-to straungers..Ne suffre hem nat, by noon oppressioun, In ȝoure boundis for to haue no wrong.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1148 : Grete damagis and oppressioun..Grekis han vp-on vs wrouȝt.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1418 : I have a lady..Which some men wolden don oppressioun, And wrongfully han hire possessioun.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)19 : O Socrates..Thou never dreddest hir [Fortune's] oppressioun, Ne in hir chere founde thou no savour.
- (1431) Proc.Privy C.4.97 : Þere is greet multitude of walled tounes..and þe keping of so many is greet charge to þe land and oppressioun to þe poeple.
- c1432-a1500(c1390) Chaucer L.St.(Robinson)12 : A man is holde unable, But if he can, by som collusioun, Don his neighbour wrong or oppressioun [vr. oprecyun].
- (1439) RParl.5.17b : The seide John can not see..no wey..for to have þis open and ryoteux wrong and oppressioun remedied.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)69 : Ouer-salt mete doth grete oppressioun To febull stomakes.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3316 : Of [read: If] iniurie or oppressioun Be doon to vs, þat gilt for-yeue vs oghte.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)359/10 : Who makis oppressioun Or dose transgressioun..Shall be demed dewly to dye.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)3085 : Iubiter was kyng By violent oppression, Whan he caste hys Fader doun.
- (1451) Paston2.527 : Of extourcious a-merciamentys take of the Prior..and hese man there set openly and shamefully and gret oppressioun in stokkys.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)236 : Thei of Portingale were eke wery of hem for ryveling and oppression.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)28/15 : Þe see at Casa candida..be þe oppressioun of Pyctis..felle fro þe domynacioun of Englysshe men.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Guy (LdMisc 683)12 : They bete..doun Myhty castellis, and euery greet cyte In ther ffurie, by ffals oppressioun.
f
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.40.9 : Deþ, blood, strijf, & twei bitinge swerd, oppressiouns [vr. oppressioun; WB(2): oppressyngis], hungris, & to-treding, & scourgis vpon wicked men ben formed.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1175 : Þe world es..a sted of mykel wrechednes..Of violence and of oppression.
- 1425(a1400) Spec.Chr.(1) (Lnsd 344)157/2 : A place it [the world] is of temptinge, of gret oppression, Of stynk & of filthe & moche corupcioun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11885 : Thies buernes of the burgh..halit in no horse, but hor hard deth, Oppression, and payne.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.213 : I gan to speke and seide..Noght all forgetyn myn oppressioun..'þis is most my cause of heuynesse.'
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)94/8 : Al þis lijf be foule, peynful, careful..and al þis..for pouerte and oppressioun.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)489 : He suffred peynes and oppression..for oure transgression.
g
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2592 : Repressed hath Venus his crewel craft, That, what with Venus and other oppressioun Of houses, Mars his venim is adoun.
h
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12136 : My name..Ys callyd Mortificacioun Off the fflessh, or chastysyng, Oppression, or ellys dawntyng.