oppress(v.)
14世纪晚期,“ oppressen ”,“在……上过分强加或压制,使烦恼,使(疾病、悲伤等)充溢”,还比喻地,“压倒、打败”; 还有“加诸残酷、不公或不合理的限制,不公正地对待或过度严苛,以不正义的权力抑制”,源于13世纪的古法语“ opresser ”“压迫,困扰; 拷问,闷死”,源自新拉丁语“ oppressare ”,表示拉丁语“ opprimere ”的反复形式,“压迫,挤在一起,压制”; 比喻地表示“压碎、制服、迫害”,在晚期拉丁语中表示“强奸”,源于拉丁语的同化形式“ ob ”,“靠着,反对”(见 ob- )+“ premere ”,“挤压,紧贴,覆盖,拥挤”(源自 PIE 根“ *per- ”(4)“打击”)。在中古英语中也有“强奸”的意思。相关词汇: Oppressed; oppressing 。
It is the due [external] restraint and not the moderation of rulers that constitutes a state of liberty; as the power to oppress, though never exercised, does a state of slavery. [St. George Tucker, "View of the Constitution of the United States," 1803]
正是因为统治者的合理限制而不是过度自由的掌控,才构成自由状态; 因为压迫的权力,即使从未被行使,也会构成奴隶状态。【圣·乔治·塔克,“美国宪法概览”,1803年】
该词起源时间:14世纪末