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compel

Pronunciation: /kəmˈpɛl/

The English word “compel” has 9 meanings listed here.

verb

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

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.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.