a. [ From L. compulsare, v. intens. of compellere. See Compel. ] Compulsatory. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By compulsion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Operating with force; compelling; forcing; constraining; resulting from, or enforced by, compulsion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. compulsio. See Compel. ] The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force. [ 1913 Webster ]

If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

With what compulsion and laborious flight
We sunk thus low. Milton.

Syn. -- See Constraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By compulsion; by force. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a compulsory manner; by force or constraint. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. compulsorius. ] 1. Having the power of compulsion; constraining. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to compulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

This contribution threatening to fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. compunctus, p. p. ] Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. compunction, F. componction, L. compunctio, fr. compungere, compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent. ] 1. A pricking; stimulation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That acid and piercing spirit which, with such activity and compunction, invadeth the brains and nostrils. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience. [ 1913 Webster ]

He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction. Clarendon.

Syn. -- Compunction, Remorse, Contrition. Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offended God or brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true contrition, which denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition in view of our past lives. See Regret. [ 1913 Webster ]