Keeping someone under harsh control through force or authority; treating a group unfairly and cruelly over a long period of time.
From Old French 'oppresser,' from Latin 'opprimere': 'ob-' (against) + 'premere' (to press or push). The image of being physically pressed down perfectly captures the metaphor of systematic injustice.
Historians noticed that oppressive systems throughout history almost always collapse once the oppressed realize they outnumber their oppressors—which is why dictators spend resources on making people feel divided and isolated from each other.
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