De-prĕs'sion, n.

noun

(de-prĕsh'un), n. [Lat. depressio, Fr. dépression, Pr. depressio, Sp. depression, It. depressione.]

The act of depressing, or causing to fall.
The state of being depressed or cast down; a sinking.
A falling in of the surface; a sinking below its true place; a cavity or hollow; as, roughness, consisting in little protuberances and depressions.
Humiliation; abasement, as of pride.
Dejection; despondency. “Depression of spirit.” Baker.
Diminution of prosperity, as of trade, &c.
(Astron.) The angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon.
(Alg.) The operation of reducing to a lower degree;—said of equations.
(Surg.) A method of operating for cataract; couching.

Depression of the dew-point (Meteor.), the number of degrees that the dew-point is lower than the actual temperature of the atmosphere.—Depression of the pole, its apparent sinking, as the spectator travels toward the equator.—Depression of the visible horizon (Astron.), the same as DIP OF THE HORIZON, q. v.

Synonyms—Abasement; reduction; sinking; fall; humiliation; dejection; melancholy.