'repressively' ultimately originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'reprimere' (also recorded as 'reprimere' / 'repress-'), where the prefix 're-' meant 'back' and 'primere' (from 'premere') meant 'to press.'

'repressively' developed through Late Latin and Old/Middle French influences: Latin 'reprimere' → Medieval Latin 'repress-/-ivus' → Middle French/early Modern French adjective 'répressif' (or similar forms) → English adjective 'repressive' → adverb 'repressively.'

Initially it meant 'to press back' or 'to restrain by pressure'; over time it came to mean 'to restrain or suppress (actions, expressions, freedoms),' and the adverb now means 'in a suppressing or restrictive manner.'