sup|press

sup|press «suh PREHS», transitive verb.

1. to put an end to; stop by force; put down: »

The police suppressed a riot by firing over the heads of the mob.

SYNONYM(S): subdue, quell, crush.

2. to keep in; hold back; keep from appearing: »

to suppress a smile. She suppressed a yawn. Each nation suppressed news that was not favorable to it. Newspapers had easily gotten copies of the Cameron report and published the suppressed paragraph alongside the final official one (Carl Sandburg).

SYNONYM(S): restrain, repress.

3. to subdue (as a feeling, thought, or habit): »

suppressed desires. Gradually the child's unconscious fills more or less deliberately with things forgotten (suppressed) because they are unpleasant (Time).

4. to check the flow of: »

to suppress bleeding.

5. to keep secret; refrain from disclosing or divulging: »

to suppress the truth.

╂[< Latin suppressus, past participle of supprimere < sub- down, under + premere to press]