compel

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle English compellen, from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Middle English fordriven ("to drive out, to lead to, to compel, to force"). More at fordrive.

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

compel (third-person singular simple present compels, present participle compelling, simple past and past participle compelled)

  1. (transitive, archaic) (literally) To drive together, round up
    Sheep dogs masterly compel the herd.
  2. (transitive) To overpower; to subdue
    • 1917, Upton Sinclair, King Coal, ch. 16,
      She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man.
  3. (transitive) To force, constrain or coerce
    Logic compels the wise, fools feel compelled by emotions instead.
    • 1600, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, act 5, sc. 1,
      Against my will, / As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set / Upon one battle all our liberties.
  4. (transitive) To exact, extort, (make) produce by force
    • 1912, L. Frank Baum, Sky Island, ch. 14,
      The Queen has nothing but the power to execute the laws, to adjust grievances and to compel order.

Derived terms [edit]

terms derived from compel (verb)

Translations [edit]

drive together, round up
overpower
force, constrain or coerce
exact by force
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Translations to be checked

References [edit]

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