Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OP-POS'-TIVE, a.

That may be put in opposition. Hall.

OP-PRESS', v.t. [Fr. oppresser; L. oppressus, from opprimo; ob and premo, to press.]

1. To load or burden with unreasonable impositions; to treat with unjust severity, rigor or hardship; as, to oppress a nation with taxes or contributions; to oppress one by compelling him to perform unreasonable service.
2. To overpower; to overburden; as, to be oppressed with grief.
3. To sit or lie heavy on; as, excess of food oppresses the stomach.

OP-PRESS'ED, pp.

Burdened with unreasonable impositions; overpowered; overburdened; depressed.

OP-PRESS'ING, ppr.

Overburdening.

OP-PRES'SION, n.

1. The act of oppressing; the imposition of unreasonable burdens, either in taxes or services; cruelty; severity.
2. The state of being oppressed or overburdened; misery. Shak. The Lord – saw the oppression of Israel. 2 Kings xiii.
3. Hardship; calamity. Addison.
4. Depression; dullness of spirits; lassitude of body. Arbuthnot.
5. A sense of heaviness or weight in the breast, &c.

OP-PRESS'IVE, a.

1. Unreasonably burdensome; unjustly severe; as, oppressive taxes; oppressive exactions of service.
2. Tyrannical; as, an oppressive government.
3. Heavy; overpowering; overwhelming; as, oppressive grief or woe.

OP-PRESS'IVE-LY, adv.

In a manner to oppress; with unreasonable severity. Burke.

OP-PRESS'IV-NESS, n.

The quality of being oppressive.

OP-PRESS'OR, n.

One that oppresses; one that imposes unjust burdens on others; one that harasses others with unjust laws or unreasonable severity. Power when employed to relieve the oppressed and to punish the oppressor, becomes a great blessing. Swift.

OP-PRO'BRI-OUS, a. [See Opprobrium.]

1. Reproachful and contemptuous; scurrilous; as, opprobrious language; opprobrious words or terms.
2. Blasted with infamy; despised; rendered hateful; as, an opprobrious name. Milton. Daniel.

OP-PRO'BRI-OUS-LY, adv.

With reproach mingled with contempt; scurrilously. Shak.

OP-PRO'BRI-OUS-NESS, n.

Reproachfulness mingled with contempt; scurrility.

OP-PRO'BRI-UM, n. [L. ob and probrum, disgrace.]

Reproach mingled with contempt or disdain.

OP-PRO'BY, n.

Opprobrium. [Not used.]

OP-PUGN, v.t. [oppu'ne; L. oppugno; ob and pugno, to fight, from pugnus, the fist, Sp. puño, Fr. poing.]

To attack; to oppose; to resist. They said the manner of their impeachment they could not but conceive did oppugn the rights of parliament. Clarendon. [It is never used in the literal sense, to fight.]

OP-PUG'NAN-CY, n.

Opposition; resistance. Shak.

OP-PUG'NANT, a.

Opposing; resisting.

OP-PUG-NA'TION, n.

Opposition; resistance. Hall.

OP-PUGN-ED, pp. [oppu'ned.]

Opposed; resisted.

OP-PUGN-ER, n. [oppu'ner.]

One who opposes or attacks; that which opposes. Boyle.

OP-PUGN-ING, ppr. [oppu'ning.]

Attacking; opposing.

OP-SIM'A-THY, n. [Gr. οψιμαθεια; οψε, late, and μανθανω, to learn.]

Late education; education late in life. [Little used.] Hales.

OP-SI-OM'E-TER, n. [Gr. οψις and μετρον.]

An instrument for measuring the extent of the limits of distinct vision in different individuals, and from that to determine the focal length of a lens necessary to correct imperfect sight. Brande.

OP-SO-NA'TION, n. [L. obsono, to cater.]

A catering; a buying of provisions. [Not used.] Dict.

OP'TA-BLE, a. [L. optabilis, from opto, to desire.]

Desirable. [Not used.]