† downbearv.
Obsolete.
transitive. To bear or carry (someone or something) downwards; to press or strike down; to cause to sink; (figurative) to oppress, to defeat, to put or bring down. Also occasionally (and in earliest use) intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > press or force down
downbeara1382
pressc1425
to bear down1440
depress1526
suppress1542
detrude1548
sway1857
to force down1917
society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > subject [verb (transitive)] > suppress, repress, or put down
nithereOE
adweschOE
overtreadOE
quellOE
to trample or tread under foot (also feet)c1175
adauntc1325
to bear downc1330
oppressc1380
repressc1391
overyoke?a1425
quencha1425
to bear overc1425
supprisec1440
overquell?c1450
farec1460
supprime1490
downbeara1500
stanch1513
undertread1525
downtread1536
suppress1537
to set one's foot on the neck of1557
depress?a1562
overbear1565
surpress1573
trample1583
repose1663
spiflicate1749
sort1815
to trample down1853
to sit on ——1915
to clamp down1924
crack down1940
tamp1959
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Isa. lviii. 6 Vnbind þou þe togidere bindingis of vnpitousnesse, loose þe bundelis doun beringe [a1425 pressynge doun; L. deprimentes].
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 5897 A tempest on him light. His schip was doun born, his self gan þer deye.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) lxxxviii. §41. 325 Thou heghid the righthand of downberand him.
1585 J. Sharrock tr. C. Ocland Valiant Actes & Victorious Battailes Eng. Nation ii. sig. Kv But Warwicke furious wroth, with blouddy blade his foes downe beares.
1619 W. Quin Mem. B. Stuart sig. C3 Like to a Torrent from a mountaines top..Which ouer-flowing all the lower plaines, Trees, bridges, cottages and countrey townes With violence downe beares, subuerts and drownes.
1656 Choyce Drollery 79 But many a proud Scot that day was down born, And many a rank Coward was put to his flight.
1837 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. III. 130 Hemmed in and downborne by an overpowering opposition.
1897 L. P. Johnson Ireland 22 Oh, that morn Were on me, and with morning, calm! These tumults of the night downborne.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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v.a1382