Com*pel" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n Compelling.] [L. compellere, compilstum, to drive together, to compel, urge; com- + pellere to drive: cf. OF. compellir. See Pulse.]

1.

To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.

Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once. Hallam.

And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross. Mark xv. 21.

2.

To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.

[R.]

Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance. Shak.

3.

To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. Dryden.

I compel all creatures to my will. Tennyson.

4.

To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

[A Latinism] "In one troop compelled."

Dryden.

5.

To call forth; to summon.

[Obs.]

Chapman.

She had this knight from far compelled. Spenser.

Syn. -- To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce.

 

© Webster 1913.


Com*pel" (?), v. i.

To make one yield or submit.

"If she can not entreat, I can not compel."

Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.

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