COMPEL • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Compel

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/kəmpˈɛl/ Listen

verb

Compel v. t. (past & past part. compelled; pres. part. compelling)

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." "And they compel one Simon... to bear his cross."

To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort. (R.) "Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance."

To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. "Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled." "I compel all creatures to my will."

To gather or unite in a crowd or company. (A Latinism) "In one troop compelled."

To call forth; to summon. (Obs.) "She had this knight from far compelled."

Synonyms: To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce.

Compel v. i. To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can compel."

See images of 'Compel'

Etymology of 'Compel'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Compel" Quotes from Famous Books

... service was divided and each of the masters had the share that belonged to him and was his in such slave; and the division was made by months, or as was convenient among the masters. When a slave is not a whole slave but only a half or fourth part, he has the right to compel his master to give him his freedom for the just price at which he is appraised, according to the rank of the slavery, sanguiguilir or namamahay. But if he be a whole slave, the master cannot be compelled to ransom ...

— The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55 • Francisco Colin

... also a common expedient for the purification of the sick-room. They are useful, but only in the sense hinted at by the medical lecturer, who commenced his lecture thus:—"Fumigations, gentlemen, are of essential importance; they make so abominable a smell, that they compel you to open the windows and admit fresh air." In this sense they are useful, but ineffectual unless the cause be removed, and ...

— The Book of Household Management • Mrs. Isabella Beeton

... stood the English policy in Scotland in such stead as the good understanding with France. But much more seemed attainable if France and England were united for ever. They would then be able to compel the King of Spain to conclude a peace with the Netherlands which would secure them their liberties; and, if he did not observe it, they would have grounds for a common occupation of a part of the Provinces. ...

— A History of England Principally in the Seventeenth Century, Volume I (of 6) • Leopold von Ranke

... long term of office. But inasmuch as this could be remedied only by a constitutional amendment, it is not likely that anything short of a revolutionary public sentiment in favor of such change could compel the preliminary two-thirds majority in that body which the Constitution makes necessary. A body made up of men who for the most part realize that they owe their political advancement to a minority would naturally be loth ...

— The Spirit of American Government - A Study Of The Constitution: Its Origin, Influence And - Relation To Democracy • J. Allen Smith

... notwithstanding its affection. It lacked the perfection of personal dignity which had pleased her heretofore in Honoria St. Quentin. She felt vaguely disappointed. And it followed that this thought, therefore, must go along with the rest. For she refused to be disquieted. She would compel ...

— The History of Sir Richard Calmady - A Romance • Lucas Malet

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