English Explanatory Dictionary

compel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To drive together, round up.
To overpower; to subdue.
To force, constrain, or coerce.
To forcefully or powerfully motivate (a course of action).
To have a strong, irresistible force (on someone or something).
To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.
To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
To call forth; to summon.

Pronunciation

/kəmˈpɛl/ En-us-compel.ogg

Word forms

compel compels compelling compelled

Etymology

From Middle English compellen, borrowed from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Old English nīedan.

Related words

compulsion

Derived words

compellable compellation compelled compellence compeller compelling compel testimony recompel

Translations

Armenian: ենթարկել Bulgarian: подчиня́вам Czech: podrobit Czech: podrobovat Dutch: bedwingen Finnish: alistaa Galician: domear German: zwingen Russian: подчиня́ть

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