tr.v. de·pressed, de·press·ing, de·press·es 1. To cause to be sad or dejected. 2. a. To cause to drop or sink; lower: The drought depressed the water level in the reservoirs. b. To press down: Depress the space bar on a typewriter. 3. To lessen the activity or force of; weaken: feared that rising inflation would further depress the economy. 4. To lower prices in (a financial market). [Middle English depressen, to push down, from Old French depresser, from Latin dēprimere, dēpress- : dē-, de- + premere, to press; see per-4 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] de·pressi·ble adj. |
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