Hypertext Webster Gateway: "depress"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Depress \De*press"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Depressed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Depressing}.] [L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de-
+ premere to press. See {Press}.]
1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower;
as, to depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes.
``With lips depressed.'' --Tennyson.
2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.
3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were
depressed.
4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as
trade, commerce, etc.
5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to
cheapen; to depreciate.
6. (Math.) To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree.
{To depress the pole} (Naut.), to cause the sidereal pole to
appear lower or nearer the horizon, as by sailing toward
the equator.
Syn: To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble;
degrade; dispirit; discourage.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Depress \De*press"\, a. [L. depressus, p. p.]
Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.]
If the seal be depress or hollow. --Hammond.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
depress
v 1: lower someone's spirits; make downhearted; "These news
depressed her"; "The bad state of her child's health
demoralizes her" [syn: {deject}, {cast down}, {get down},
{dismay}, {dispirit}, {demoralize}, {demoralise}] [ant:
{elate}]
2: lower (prices or markets); "The glut of oil depressed gas
prices"
3: cause to drop or sink; "The lack of rain had depressed the
water level in the reservoir" [syn: {lower}]
4: press down; "Depress the space key" [syn: {press down}]
5: lessen the activity or force of; "The rising inflation
depressed the economy"
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