English Dictionary: compelled | by the DICT Development Group |
1 result for compelled | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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] [bd]In one troop compelled.[b8] --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}. |