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Oppress vs Subaltern - What's the difference?

oppress | subaltern |

As a verb oppress

is (obsolete) physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.

As an adjective subaltern is

of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.

As a noun subaltern is

a subordinate.

oppress

English

Verb

(es)
  • (obsolete) Physically to press down on (someone) with harmful effects; to smother, crush.
  • * , II.x:
    • Most mercilesse of women, VVyden hight, / Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse , / And with most cruell hand him murdred pittilesse.
  • To keep down by force
    • The rural poor were oppressed by the land-owners.
  • To make sad or gloomy
    • We were oppressed by the constant grey skies.

    Related terms

    * oppression

    External links

    * * English transitive verbs

    subaltern

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.
    • a subaltern officer
  • (logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A subordinate.
  • (British) A commissioned officer having a rank below that of captain; a lieutenant or second lieutenant.
  • *
  • (logic) A subaltern proposition; a proposition implied by a universal proposition. For example, some crows are black'' is a subaltern of ''all crows are black .

    • See also

    * lieutenant