Definitions for: Compel

[v] make someone do something
[v] force or compel somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form"

Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

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

Synonyms: command, obligate, oblige, require

See Also: act, apply, burden, cause, charge, clamor, coerce, condemn, disallow, enforce, enjoin, forbid, force, get, hale, have, implement, induce, interdict, make, move, order, pressure, prohibit, proscribe, requisition, saddle, say, shame, stimulate, tell, thrust, veto, walk

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