de·press / diˈpres/ • v. [tr.] 1. make (someone) feel utterly dispirited or dejected: that first day at school depressed me. ∎  reduce the level or strength of activity in (something, esp. an economic or biological system): fear of inflation in America depressed bond markets| alcohol depresses the nervous system.2. push or pull (something) down into a lower position: depress the lever.DERIVATIVES: de·press·i·ble adj.

depress †subjugate XIV; press down; bring down in vigour or spirits XV. — OF. depresser — late L. dēpressāre, frequent. f. dēpress-, pp. stem of dēprimere press down, f. DE- 1 + premere PRESS.
So depression (astron.) angular distance below the horizon, etc., XIV; lowering of condition or powers XV. — (O)F. or L.