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. ] 1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross. Mark xv. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Commissions, which compel from each
The sixth part of his substance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I compel all creatures to my will. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To gather or unite in a crowd or company. [ A Latinism ] “In one troop compelled.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To call forth; to summon. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

She had this knight from far compelled. Spenser.

Syn. -- To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make one yield or submit. “If she can not entreat, I can compel.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being compelled or constrained. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By compulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. compellatio, fr. compellare to accost, fr. compellere. See Compel. ] Style of address or salutation; an appellation. “Metaphorical compellations.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He useth this endearing compellation, “My little children.” Bp. Beveridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

The peculiar compellation of the kings in France is by “Sire, ” which is nothing else but father. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) The name by which a person is addressed; an appellative. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to compel; compulsory. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who compels or constrains. [ 1913 Webster ]