What is "to bear down upon"

Bear \Bear\ (b[^a]r), v. i.

1. To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.

   This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
   --Dryden.

2. To suffer, as in carrying a burden.

   But man is born to bear.
   --Pope.

3. To endure with patience; to be patient.

   I can not, can not bear.
   --Dryden.

4. To press; -- with on or upon, or against.

   These men bear hard on the suspected party.
   --Addison.

5. To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.

6. To relate or refer; -- with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?

7. To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.

   Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
   --Hawthorne.

8. To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E. To bear against, to approach for attack or seizure; as, a lion bears against his prey. [Obs.] To bear away (Naut.), to change the course of a ship, and make her run before the wind. To bear back, to retreat. ``Bearing back from the blows of their sable antagonist.'' --Sir W. Scott. To bear down upon (Naut.), to approach from the windward side; as, the fleet bore down upon the enemy. To bear in with (Naut.), to run or tend toward; as, a ship bears in with the land. To bear off (Naut.), to steer away, as from land. To bear up.

   1. To be supported; to have fortitude; to be firm; not to sink; as, to bear up under afflictions.

   2. (Naut.) To put the helm up (or to windward) and so put the ship before the wind; to bear away.
      --Hamersly.

      To bear upon (Mil.), to be pointed or situated so as to affect; to be pointed directly against, or so as to hit (the object); as, to bring or plant guns so as to bear upon a fort or a ship; the artillery bore upon the center.

      To bear up to, to tend or move toward; as, to bear up to one another.

      To bear with, to endure; to be indulgent to; to forbear to resent, oppose, or punish.