depress

Where does the word "depress" come from? It comes from Latin deprimere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Depress’s story begins in Latin: deprimere meant “to press down.” To press down, from de- (down) and premere (to press). It reached English by 1300s as depress. Settled as the English word for pushing something down or lowering spirits. Today, depress means to make someone feel sad and without energy, or to press something down.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient deprimere "to press down", to press down, from de- (down) and premere (to press).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s depress "to push something down, or to lower spirits", settled as the English word for pushing something down or lowering spirits.