depress

Etymology

From Middle English depressen, from Old French depresser, from Latin dēpressus, perfect participle of dēprimō (“to press down, to weigh down”), from dē- (“off, away, down, out”) + premō (“to press”).

verb

1. To press down.
   Depress the upper lever to start the machine.
   As to the fireman, the sight of him at work, swinging round with his shovelful of coal and at the same moment lightly depressing his right heel and so working the pedal which causes the steam-operated firedoors to open like magic in front of the shovel, was always a pleasure. 1947 January and February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 39
2. To make depressed, sad or bored.
   Winter depresses me.
3. (economics) To cause a depression or a decrease in parts of the economy.
   Lower productivity will eventually depress wages.
4. To bring down or humble; to abase (pride, etc.).
5. (mathematics) To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree.