compel

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

COMPEL, verb transitive 1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force. Thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bound servant. Leviticus 25:39. And they compel one Simon--to bear his cross. Mark 15:21. Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23. Circumstances compel us to practice economy. 2. To force; to take by force, or violence; to seize. The subjects grief comes through commissions, which compel from each a sixth part of his substance. 3. To drive together; to gather; to unite in a crowd or company. A Latinism, compellere gregem. In one troop compelled. 4. To seize; to overpower; to hold. And easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. 5. To call forth, Latin compeller.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

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