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 ] | 
