New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
compel — com·pel /kəm pel/ vt com·pelled, com·pel·ling: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and esp. by authority or law cannot compel the defendant to testify the result...is compelled by, the original understanding of the fourteenth… … Law dictionary
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Compel — Com*pel , v. i. To make one yield or submit. If she can not entreat, I can compel. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
compel — mid 14c., from O.Fr. compellir, from L. compellere to drive together, drive to one place (of cattle), to force or compel (of persons), from com together (see COM (Cf. com )) + pellere to drive (see PULSE (Cf. pulse) (1)). Related: Compelled … Etymology dictionary
compel — *force, coerce, constrain, oblige Analogous words: impel, drive, *move: *command, order, enjoin Contrasted words: prevail, *induce, persuade, get: *coax, cajole, wheedle, blandish … New Dictionary of Synonyms
compel — [v] force to act bulldoze*, coerce, concuss, constrain, crack down, dragoon, drive, enforce, exact, hustle, impel, make, make necessary, necessitate, oblige, put the arm on*, put the chill on*, restrain, shotgun*, squeeze, throw weight around*,… … New thesaurus
compel — ► VERB (compelled, compelling) 1) force or oblige to do something. 2) bring about by force or pressure. ORIGIN Latin compellere, from pellere drive … English terms dictionary
compel — [kəm pel′] vt. compelled, compelling [ME compellen < OFr compellir < L compellere < com , together + pellere, to drive: see FELT1] 1. to force or constrain, as to do something 2. to get or bring about by force 3. Archaic to gather or… … English World dictionary
compel — verb 1) he compelled them to leave their land Syn: force, pressure, press, push, urge; dragoon, browbeat, bully, intimidate, strong arm; oblige, require, make; informal lean on, put the screws on 2) they can compel compliance … Thesaurus of popular words
compel — 01. The single mother was [compelled] to take on a second part time job in order to feed her family. 02. The government has introduced legislation to [compel] public buildings to spend a certain amount of their budget on art. 03. I felt… … Grammatical examples in English
Compel — To compel one to present information to a jury is done by order of a judge. If a judge believes the individual has information relevant to the cause, he can force that person to present that information or be subject to arrest for contempt of… … Wikipedia
