compel definition | Dictionary.com

com⋅pel

[kuh

m-pel]

verb, -pelled, -pel⋅ling.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to force or drive, esp. to a course of action: His disregard of the rules compels us to dismiss him.

2.	to secure or bring about by force.

3.	to force to submit; subdue.

4.	to overpower.

5.	Archaic. to drive together; unite by force; herd.

–verb (used without object)

6.	to use force.

7.	to have a powerful and irresistible effect, influence, etc.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME compellen (< AF) < L compellere to crowd, force, equiv. to com- com- + pellere to push, drive

Related forms:

com⋅pel⋅la⋅ble, adjective

com⋅pel⋅la⋅bly, adverb

com⋅pel⋅lent, adjective

com⋅pel⋅ler, noun

com⋅pel⋅ling⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. constrain, oblige, coerce. Compel, impel agree in the idea of using physical or other force to cause something to be done. Compel means to constrain someone, in some way, to yield or to do what one wishes: to compel a recalcitrant debtor to pay; Fate compels us to face danger and trouble. Impel may mean literally to push forward, but is usually applied figuratively, meaning to provide a strong motive or incentive toward a certain end: Wind impels a ship. Curiosity impels me to ask. 3. overpower, bend.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To compel

com·pel (kəm-pěl')

tr.v. com·pelled, com·pel·ling, com·pels

To force, drive, or constrain: Duty compelled the soldiers to volunteer for the mission.
To necessitate or pressure by force; exact: An energy crisis compels fuel conservation. See Synonyms at force.
To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway: "The land, in a certain, very real way, compels the minds of the people" (Barry Lopez).

[Middle English compellen, from Latin compellere : com-, com- + pellere, to drive; see pel-⁵ in Indo-European roots.]
com·pel'la·ble adj., com·pel'la·bly adv., com·pel'ler n.

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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Compel

Com*pel"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compelled; p. pr. & vb. n Compelling.] [L. compellere, compulsum, 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.

Compel

Com*pel"\, v. i. To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can compel." --Shak.

Language Translation for : compel

Spanish: obligar, forzar,

German: zwingen,

Japanese: しいて～させる

More Translations »

compel

c.1350, from O.Fr. compellir, from L. compellere "to drive together," from com- "together" + pellere "to drive."

Main Entry: com·pel
Pronunciation: k&m-'pel
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: com·pelled; com·pel·ling
: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and esp. by authority or law compel the defendant to testify> compelled by, the original understanding of the fourteenth amendment's equal protection clause —Railroad H. Bork>

Compel
COMpute ParallEL

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