Etymology : Middle English compellen, from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, from com- + pellere to drive; more at FELT
Pronunciation : k&m-'pel
Function : transitive verb
Date : 14th century
1. force, coerce, influence. compel\com*pel"\ , v. i. to make one yield or submit. "if she can not entreat, i can compel."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.].
2. 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. and they compel one simon to bear his cross.
3. 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.
4. to force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. i compel all creatures to my will.
5. to gather or unite in a crowd or company. [a latinism] "in one troop compelled.".
6. to call forth; to summon. [obs.] she had this knight from far compelled.
7. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.
8. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.
9. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
10. To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
11. To call forth; to summon.
12. To make one yield or submit. force or compel somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form".
13. 1. If a situation, a rule, or a person compels you to do something, they force you to do it. the introduction of legislation to compel cyclists to wear a helmet Local housing authorities have been compelled by the housing crisis to make offers of sub-standard accommodation.
14. If you feel compelled to do something, you feel that you must do it, because it is the right thing to do. I felt morally compelled to help.