Main Entry: com·pul·sion

Pronunciation: \kəm-ˈpəl-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compulsion-, compulsio, from Latin compellere to compel

Date: 15th century

1 a : an act of compelling : the state of being compelled b : a force that compels
2 : an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing); also : the act itself