repressive

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English press English repress Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English repressive From repress + -ive.

1. Serving to repress or suppress; oppressive

   “Human law is indeed repressive, but repressive on moral principles comprehensively applied to the whole community, and commanding the approval of the moral sense of the governed”

   “First, the classical rule forbids any unilateral right to use force to overthrow a regime on the sole grounds that it is repressive in character.”