compel

verb

Etymology: From Middle English compellen, borrowed from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Old English nīedan.

1. To drive together, round up.

   “The shepherds compelled the stray sheep into the fold as night began to fall.”

2. To overpower; to subdue.

   “She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man.”

3. To force, constrain, or coerce.

   “Logic compels the wise, while fools feel compelled by emotions.”

   “Congratulations, your courage compels respect.”

4. To forcefully or powerfully motivate (a course of action).

   “As the novel progresses, it picks up a propulsive energy, the kind that compels you to keep reading straight through to the end.”

5. To have a strong, irresistible force (on someone or something).
6. To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.

   “Commissions, which compel from each / The sixth part of his substance.”

   “The Queen has nothing but the power to execute the laws, to adjust grievances and to compel order.”

7. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

   “Easy sleep their weary limbs compell'd.”

   “And I will fetch you forage from all fields, / For I compel all creatures to my will.”

8. To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

   “in one troop compell'd”

9. To call forth; to summon.

   “She had this knight from far compeld.”

   “the pow'rs that I compel / Shall throw thee hence, and make thy head run ope the gates of hel”