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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

com·pass Audio Help (kŭm'pəs, kŏm'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
2. Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
3. An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: outside the compass of the fence. See Synonyms at circumference.
4. A restricted space or area: four huge crates within the compass of the elevator.
5. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: "Lacking a coherent intellectual and moral commitment, [he] was forced to find his compass in personal experience" (Doris Kearns Goodwin). See Synonyms at range.
A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned. Also called pair of compasses.
1. An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: outside the compass of the fence. See Synonyms at circumference.
2. A restricted space or area: four huge crates within the compass of the elevator.
3. Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: "Lacking a coherent intellectual and moral commitment, [he] was forced to find his compass in personal experience" (Doris Kearns Goodwin). See Synonyms at range.
Music See range.

tr.v. com·passed, com·pass·ing, com·pass·es

To make a circuit of; circle: The sailboat compassed the island.
To surround; encircle. See Synonyms at surround.
To understand; comprehend.
To succeed in carrying out; accomplish. See Synonyms at reach.
To scheme; plot.

adj.

Forming a curved configuration.
Semicircular. Used of bow windows.

[Middle English compas, circle, compass, from Old French, from compasser, to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassāre, to pace off : Latin com-, com- + Latin passus, step; see pace¹.]

com'pass·a·ble adj.

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Compassed

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Compassed

Com"pass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Compassing.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.]

1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.

Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi. 4.

We the globe can compass soon. --Shak.

2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about.

With terrors and with clamors compassed round. --Milton.

Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about. --Shak.

Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round. --Luke xix. 43.

3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.

If I can check my erring love, I will: If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak.

How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham.

4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak.

5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.

Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. --Blackstone.

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