compel
com·pel
transitive verb \kəm-ˈpel\com·pelledcom·pel·ling
Definition of COMPEL
1
: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly <hunger compelled him to eat>
2
: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure <public opinion compelled her to sign the bill>
3
archaic : to drive together
— com·pel·la·ble \-ˈpe-lə-bəl\ adjective
Examples of COMPEL
- Illness compelled him to stay in bed.
- We took steps to compel their cooperation.
Origin of COMPEL
Middle English compellen, from Anglo-French compeller, from Latin compellere, from com- + pellere to drive — more at felt
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to COMPEL
Rhymes with COMPEL
band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell
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