'Compel' definitions:
Definition of 'compel'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Compel'
From: GCIDE
- Compel \Com*pel"\, v. i. To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can compel." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Compel'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
- And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross. --Mark xv. 21. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. [1913 Webster]
- Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- I compel all creatures to my will. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To gather or unite in a crowd or company. [A Latinism] "In one troop compelled." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- 5. To call forth; to summon. [Obs.] --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
- She had this knight from far compelled. --Spenser.
- Syn: To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'compel'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- actuate,
- animate,
- beat down,
- beset,
- bind,
- break,
- browbeat,
- bulldoze,
- bully,
- castrate,
- cause,
- cause to,
- clamp down on,
- coerce,
- concuss,
- constrain,
- cow,
- daunt,
- despotize,
- dictate,
- domineer,
- domineer over,
- drive,
- drive on,
- energize,
- enforce,
- enslave,
- force,
- forward,
- foster,
- galvanize,
- give an impetus,
- give momentum,
- goad,
- grind,
- grind down,
- grip,
- have,
- henpeck,
- hold,
- impel,
- incite,
- infatuate,
- insist upon,
- intimidate,
- keep down,
- keep under,
- lord it over,
- make,
- motivate,
- move,
- move to action,
- necessitate,
- not let go,
- oblige,
- obsess,
- oppress,
- overawe,
- overbear,
- overmaster,
- override,
- possess,
- power,
- preoccupy,
- press heavy on,
- promote,
- propel,
- put in motion,
- repress,
- restrain,
- ride over,
- ride roughshod over,
- set agoing,
- set going,
- set in motion,
- shotgun,
- spark,
- stimulate,
- subjugate,
- suppress,
- terrorize,
- thrust,
- tie,
- trample down,
- trample upon,
- tread down,
- tread upon,
- tyrannize,
- tyrannize over,
- unman,
- use force upon,
- walk all over,
- walk over,
- weigh heavy on,
- whip on