Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

compesce

transitive verb
com·​pesce | \kəmˈpes\
-ed/-ing/-s

Definition of compesce 

archaic Scottish

: to hold in check : restrain

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for compesce

Middle English compessen, from Latin compescere, from com- + -pescere (akin to Latin parcere to spare, abstain)

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about compesce

Statistics for compesce

Look-up Popularity

Comments on compesce

What made you want to look up compesce? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

cornucopia

an inexhaustible supply or amount

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

A Thanksgiving Word Quiz

  • a-traditional-thanksgiving-dinner
  • November comes from a word for which of the following numbers?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games