a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. ii. 2 Heeȝe þou not in tyme of opressing.

Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 24 Spoilinge pore men with vniust axingis or tallagis, oppressingis, extortions.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Ecclus. xl. 9 Deth, blood, stryvyng, and sword, oppressyngis [a1382 E.V. oppressiouns], hungur, and sorowe, and beetyngis..ben maad on wickid men.

1460–1 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1460 383/1 Ride to the oppressyng of..the said rebellions.

1483 Catholicon Anglicum (BL Add. 89074) (1881) 260 An Oppressynge, oppressio.

a1500 ( in C. Monro Lett. Margaret of Anjou (1863) 147 (MED) Ye do yeve in commandement unto yor said bailiff for to cesse of his said vexacions and oppressing..that oure said tenants may leve in rest.

a1538 A. Abell Roit or Quheill of Tyme f. 6*^v, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) Jamys 4 tuyk grit lawbir in keppn of iustice & oppressyn of thevis.

1649 J. Milton Tenure of Kings 38 The oppressing and bereaving of Religion and thir liberty.

1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 343 For all Hurrying, Hunting, Oppressing and Killing.

1762 J. Woolman Wks. (1840) 220 In many ways they corrupted the law,..the oppressing of the stranger was one.

1862 R. Hatch Bible Servitude Re-examined 14 The oppressing of free people..however wicked and wrong it may be, is not chattel slavery.

1951 tr. Bk. Mencius iii. i, in R. F. Moore Readings in Oriental Philos. viii. 81 The prince..has his granaries, treasuries, and arsenals, which is an oppressing of the people to nourish himself.

2001 Antara (Nexis) 9 Dec. The endorsement is an act of oppressing of the people, Moslems in particular.

a1475 ( S. Scrope tr. Dicts & Sayings Philosophers (Bodl. 943) (1999) 252 (MED) A good lord..dooth his deuour to kepe his subiettis..& not to be..rigorous and oppressing.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost i. i. 228 Besedged with sable coloured melancholie, I did commende the blacke oppressing humour to the most holsome phisicke of thy health-geuing ayre.

1611 Bible (King James) Zeph. iii. 1 Woe..to the oppressing citie. View more context for this quotation

1649 J. Lilburne Legall Fund. Liberties People of Eng. (title page) Who, although they have beheaded the King for a Tyrant, yet walk in his oppressingest steps.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Ventilate When the Bloud is ventilated and purged from oppressing Vapours.

a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1805) 129 They prove an oppressing load.

1784 J. Brown Compend. Hist. Brit. Churches I. 188 The oppressing managers.

1839 T. Carlyle Chartism v. 42 The oppressing or neglecting upper classes.

1881 A. Trollope Ayala's Angel III. lvii. 174 Solitude in a continental town with no amusements beyond those offered by the table d'hote and the theatre is oppressing.

1909 Daily Chron. 30 Nov. 5/2 Shatter the oppressing band, On to victory!

1990 N. Harris National Liberation (BNC) 22 Individuals choose to belong to national groups (even if the oppressing force reduces the range of choice to a very narrow one).