Result from Foreign Dictionaries (3 entries found)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Compass \Com"pass\ (k[u^]m"pas), n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See {Pace}, {Pass}.] 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. [1913 Webster] They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. --2 Kings iii. 9. [1913 Webster] This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall. [1913 Webster] 3. An inclosed space; an area; extent. [1913 Webster] Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. --Addison. [1913 Webster] 4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination. [1913 Webster] The compass of his argument. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] 5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within. [1913 Webster] In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster] 6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument. [1913 Webster] You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 7. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction. [1913 Webster] He that first discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 8. A pair of compasses. [R.] See {Compasses.} To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please. --Swift. [1913 Webster] 9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. --Skeat.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] {Azimuth compass}. See under {Azimuth}. {Beam compass}. See under {Beam}. {Compass card}, the circular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs. {Compass dial}, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day. {Compass plane} (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork. {Compass plant}, {Compass flower} (Bot.), a plant of the American prairies ({Silphium laciniatum}), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south. [1913 Webster] Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the compass flower. --Longefellow. {Compass saw}, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also {fret saw} and {keyhole saw}. {Compass timber} (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber. {Compass window} (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel window. {Mariner's compass}, a kind of compass used in navigation. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also rhumbs, and the glass-covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position. {Surveyor's compass}, an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See {Circumferentor}. {Variation compass}, a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle. {To fetch a compass}, to make a circuit. [1913 Webster] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Compass \Com"pass\ (k[u^]m"pas), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compassed} (k[u^]m"past); p. pr. & vb. n. {Compassing}.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.] 1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of. [1913 Webster] Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi. 4. [1913 Webster] We the globe can compass soon. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about. [1913 Webster] With terrors and with clamors compassed round. --Milton. [1913 Webster] Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round. --Luke xix. 43. [1913 Webster] 3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish. [1913 Webster] If I can check my erring love, I will: If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak. [1913 Webster] How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham. [1913 Webster] 4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot. [1913 Webster] Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: compass n 1: navigational instrument for finding directions 2: an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" [syn: {scope}, {range}, {reach}, {orbit}, {compass}, {ambit}] 3: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" [syn: {compass}, {range}, {reach}, {grasp}] 4: drafting instrument used for drawing circles v 1: bring about; accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his talents can compass" 2: travel around, either by plane or ship; "We compassed the earth" [syn: {circumnavigate}, {compass}] 3: get the meaning of something; "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?" [syn: {grok}, {get the picture}, {comprehend}, {savvy}, {dig}, {grasp}, {compass}, {apprehend}]