I.to press down, weigh down, sink down, to depress (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “vis venti nubem deprimit,” Lucr. 6, 432: “qui (Critolaus) tantum propendere illam lancem putet, ut terram et maria deprimat,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 17 fin.; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 92: deprimi in tenebras, id. Fragm. ap. Lact. 3, 19: “ad mentum depresso supercilio,” id. Pis. 6 fin.: “animus caelestis ex altissimo domicilio depressus et quasi demersus in terram,” id. de Sen. 21: “depresso aratro (sc. in terram),” Verg. G. 1, 45 et saep.—Absol.: “haec quae porto deprimunt,” Plaut. Merc. 4, 1, 9.—
B. In partic.
1. To sink deep, as a plant, a well, etc.; to plant deep, to dig deep: “vites in terram,” Cato R. R. 32 fin.; cf. Plin. 14, 1, 3, § 10: “plantas,” Col. 11, 3, 28 et saep.: “qui tollit aedificium, vel deprimit,” Dig. 8, 2, 17, § 2: “saxum in mirandam altitudinem depressum,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 27; cf.: “valle in altitudinem depressa,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 9, 2: “locus circiter duodecim pedes humi depressus,” Sall. C. 55, 3: “fossam,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 40, 3; Tac. A. 15, 42: “deprimere vel allevare rivum,” Dig. 8, 4, 11 et saep.—
2. Naut. t. t., to sink to the bottom, to sink, sc. a ship: “partem navium,” Caes. B. C. 1, 58 fin.: “naves,” id. ib. 2, 6 fin.; 2, 7; Nep. Con. 4, 4: “lenunculos,” Caes. B. C. 2, 43 fin.: “carinam,” Ov. M. 14, 185; Tac. H. 4, 79: classis superata atque depressa, Cic. de imp. Pomp. 8, 21 et saep. —
II. Trop.
A. To press down, depress: “animus depressus,” Lucr. 6, 53: vos, gemi nae voragines scopulique reipublicae, vos meam fortunam deprimitis? vestram extollitis? (a figure borrowed from the sinking of a ship, v. supra, no. I. B. 2), Cic. Pis. 18; cf.: “improbitate depressa veritas emergit,” id. Clu. 65, 183: “ita se quisque extollit, ut deprimat alium,” Liv. 3, 65 fin.; cf. id. 30, 36; Plin. Pan. 44, 6 et saep.: “preces,” to suppress, silence, Nep. Att. 22, 2: “nunc quid elocutio attollat aut deprimat dicendum,” Quint. 8, 3 fin.: depressus in ludum, i. e. pressed, forced, Asin. Pollio ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 32, 3.—
B. Esp., to depreciate in words, disparage (cf. depretio): “adversariorum causam per contemptionem deprimere,” Auct. Her. 1, 5, 8; Cic. Inv. 1, 16, 22.—
A. Lit., pressed down, i. e. deep, lying low, depressed (perh. only post-Aug.): “humilius et depressius iter,” Plin. Ep. 9, 26, 2: “aquaeductus depressior,” Front. Aquaed. 65: “depresso loco castra ponere,” id. Strat. 1, 5, 24.—
B. Transf., of the voice, low, suppressed: “quam sedatissima et depressissima vox,” Auct. Her. 3, 14.—Adv.: dē-pressē , deeply; pos. not found.—Comp.: “fodere, quo depressius aestivos specus foderint,” Sen. Cons. ad Helv. 9, 2: “pastinare,” Col. 11, 3, 10.