Oppressure
The 1913 Webster’s dictionary defines “Oppressure” as “Oppression.” Okay, that’s terrific for the burgeoning flappers and great depressioners, but in the 21st century, the word “Oppressure” has basically gone the way of sliced bread - it’s rancid, moldy, stale, and completely forgotton.
We should bring Oppressure back, but instead of using as just another way to say “Oppression,” we can give it a more nuanced definition.
It could mean severe pressure that, while not exactly explicitly coercive, makes it very difficult not to do something you don’t want to do. So it’s basically a compromise between pressure and oppression.
“Stop oppressuring me!” is one context in which it might be used.
6 years ago