Origin: 1325–75;Middle Englishrepressen < Latinrepressus (past participle of reprimere), equivalent to re-re- + pressus, past participle of primere to press1
Related forms
re·press·i·ble, adjective
non·re·press·i·ble, adjective
non·re·press·i·ble·ness, noun
non·re·press·i·b·ly, adverb
o·ver·re·press, verb (used with object)
un·re·press·i·ble, adjective
Can be confused: oppress, repress (see synonym study at oppress).
late 14c., "to check, restrain," from L. repressus, pp. of reprimere "hold back, check," from re- "back" + premere "to push" (see press (v.1)). Used of feelings or desires from late 14c.; in the purely psychological sense, it represents Ger. verdrängen (Freud, 1893),
first attested 1904 (implied in repressed). Meaning "to put down" (a rebellion, etc.) is from late 15c. Related: Repressed; repressing.