Repression
/rɪˈprɛʃən/noun
The act of keeping something under control, especially feelings, thoughts, or dissent.
Did you know?Repression ultimately comes from Latin roots meaning “to press back,” and the same ancient pressure-root also gave English words for crushing, squeezing, and even impressing a mark into wax.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to strike, beat, or press”
Latin
Latin
premere
“to press, squeeze, hold down”
Late Latin
Latin
repressiō
“a pressing back, restraint”
Old French
Old French
repression
“restraint, suppression”
14th Century
English
repression
“the act of holding back or suppressing”
Modern English
English
repression
“the act of keeping thoughts, feelings, or actions under control”