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coerce

 - 4 dictionary results

co⋅erce

  [koh-urs]
Use coerce in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -erced, -erc⋅ing.
1. to compel by force, intimidation, or authority, esp. without regard for individual desire or volition: They coerced him into signing the document.
2. to bring about through the use of force or other forms of compulsion; exact: to coerce obedience.
3. to dominate or control, esp. by exploiting fear, anxiety, etc.: The state is based on successfully coercing the individual.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L coercēre to hold in, restrain, equiv. to co- co- + -ercēre, comb. form of arcēre to keep in, keep away, akin to arca ark

Related forms:
co⋅erc⋅er, noun
co⋅er⋅ci⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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co·erce   (kō-ûrs')   
tr.v.   co·erced, co·erc·ing, co·erc·es

  1. To force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or intimidation; compel.

  2. To dominate, restrain, or control forcibly: coerced the strikers into compliance. See Synonyms at force.

  3. To bring about by force or threat: efforts to coerce agreement.


[Latin coercēre, to control, restrain : co-, co- + arcēre, to enclose, confine.]
co·erc'er n., co·erc'i·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

coerce 
c.1451, from M.Fr. cohercer, from L. coercere "to control, restrain," from com- "together" + arcere "to enclose, confine, contain, ward off," from PIE *ark- "to hold, contain, guard." Coercion in political sense of "government by force" first attested 1798, in reference to British authority in Ireland.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: co·erce
Pronunciation: kO-'&rs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: co·erced; co·erc·ing
: to subject (a person) to coercion —compare IMPORTUNE, SOLICIT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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