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 compels2: an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing) ; also : the act itself