Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Depress
De-press′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Depressed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depressing
.] 1.
To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower;
“With lips depressed.” as, to
depress
the muzzle of a gun; to depress
the eyes. 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.
Syn. – To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble; degrade; dispirit; discourage.
De-press′
,Adj.
[L.
depressus
, p. p.] Having the middle lower than the border; concave.
[Obs.]
If the seal be
depress
or hollow. Hammond.
Webster 1828 Edition
Depress
DEPRESS
,Verb.
T.
1.
To press down; to press to a lower state or position; as, to depress the end of a tube, or the muzzle of a gun.2.
To let fall; to bring down; as, to depress the eye.3.
To render dull or languid; to limit or diminish; as, to depress commerce.4.
To sink; to lower; to deject; to make sad; as, to depress the spirits or the mind.5.
To humble; to abase; as, to depress pride.6.
To sink in altitude; to cause to appear lower or nearer the horizon; as, a man sailing towards the equator depresses the pole.7.
To impoverish; to lower in temporal estate; as, misfortunes and losses have depressed the merchants.