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compulsion

 - 7 dictionary results

com⋅pul⋅sion

  [kuhm-puhl-shuhn]
Use compulsion in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of compelling; constraint; coercion.
2. the state or condition of being compelled.
3. Psychology. a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, esp. one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME (< AF) < LL compulsiōn- (s. of compulsiō), equiv. to L compuls(us), ptp. of compellere to compel (com- com- + pul- var. s. + -sus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To compulsion
com·pul·sion   (kəm-pŭl'shən)   
n.  

    1. The act of compelling.

    2. The state of being compelled.

    3. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect" (Boston Globe).

    4. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.

    1. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect" (Boston Globe).

    2. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin compulsiō, compulsiōn-, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere, to compel; see compel.]
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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Cultural Dictionary

compulsion

In psychology, an internal force that leads persons to act against their will. A “compulsive” act cannot be controlled: “Smith was a compulsive gambler.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

compulsion 
1462, from M.Fr. compulsion, from L. compulsionem (nom. compulsio), from compulsus, pp. of compellere "compel." Psychological sense is from 1909 in A.A. Brill's translation of Freud's "Selected Papers on Hysteria," where Ger. Zwangsneurose is rendered as compulsion neurosis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: com·pul·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : an act of compelling (as by threat or intimidation); specifically : COERCION compulsion —E. A. Farnsworth and W. Federal Reporter Young>
2 : the state of being compelled; specifically : DURESS
NOTE: Compulsion can make a contract voidable or be a ground for damages or restitution. Compulsion may also be a defense to a criminal act.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: com·pul·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-sh&n
Function: noun
: an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act—compare OBSESSION, PHOBIA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

compulsion com·pul·sion (kəm-pŭl'shən)
n.
An uncontrollable impulse to perform an act, often repetitively, as an unconscious mechanism to avoid unacceptable ideas and desires which, by themselves, arouse anxiety.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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