com|pel

com|pel
com|pel «kuhm PEHL», transitive verb, -pelled, -pel|ling.
1. to drive or urge with force; force: »

Rain compelled us to stop our ball game. Circumstances compel us to economize.

2. to bring about by force; command: »

A policeman can compel obedience to the law.

3. to drive or gather together by force.
4. Obsolete. to take or get by force.
╂[< Latin compellere to force; collect < com- together + pellere drive]
–com|pel´la|ble, adjective.
–com|pel´ler, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Compel, impel mean to force. Compel means force a person to do something one wants or to give in to something: »

It is impossible to compel a person to love his fellow men.

Impel means force to move forward, but is most often used figuratively to mean drive forward by strong desire or motive or emotion: »

His hunger impelled him to beg.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • com|pel´ler — com|pel «kuhm PEHL», transitive verb, pelled, pel|ling. 1. to drive or urge with force; force: »Rain compelled us to stop our ball game. Circumstances compel us to economize. 2. to bring about by force; command: »A policeman can compel obedience… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel´la|ble — com|pel «kuhm PEHL», transitive verb, pelled, pel|ling. 1. to drive or urge with force; force: »Rain compelled us to stop our ball game. Circumstances compel us to economize. 2. to bring about by force; command: »A policeman can compel obedience… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel´ling|ly — com|pel|ling «kuhm PEHL ihng», adjective. 1. that compels; coercive; commanding: »a compelling order, a compelling voice. 2. Figurative. that attracts irresistibly; that holds by force one s interest or attention: »His magnetism was compelling,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel|ling — «kuhm PEHL ihng», adjective. 1. that compels; coercive; commanding: »a compelling order, a compelling voice. 2. Figurative. that attracts irresistibly; that holds by force one s interest or attention: »His magnetism was compelling, his… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel|la|tion — «KOM puh LAY shuhn», noun. 1. the act or mode addressing a person; form of address. 2. the name or title used in addressing a person; appellation. ╂[< Latin compellātiō, ōnis < compellāre accost, call to account < compellere; see etym.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel|la|tive — «kuhm PEHL uh tihv», noun. a term of address; appellation …   Useful english dictionary

  • com|pel|lent — «kuhm PEHL uhnt», adjective. compelling; constraining …   Useful english dictionary

  • com·pel — …   Useful english dictionary

  • com·pel·ling — …   Useful english dictionary

  • com — com·bas·sou; com·bat·ive; com·bat·ive·ly; com·bat·ive·ness; com·ba·tiv·i·ty; com·bin·abil·i·ty; com·bin·able; com·bi·na·tion·al; com·bi·na·tion·al·ism; com·bi·na·tive; com·bi·na·to·ry; com·bined; com·bine·ment; com·bin·er; com·bi·net; com·bite;… …   English syllables

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