compel

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kəmˈpɛl/ See IPA manual

Freq #17672

Meanings

1

verb
To force someone to do something.

The new rules compel all drivers to wear seatbelts.
2

verb
To make something seem necessary or strongly motivate it.

The gripping story compelled me to keep reading until dawn.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to force someone to do... force obligate

Word family

Forms compelledcompels

Derived forms compellablecompellationcompelledcompellencecompellercompellingrecompel

Related forms compulsion

Simplified etymology

Compel entered English in the late Middle Ages and goes back to Latin pellere, “to drive,” with the etymological sense “drive together.”

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.

*pel- (beat) Proto-Indo-European compellen Middle English compellir Middle French compello Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# compel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈpɛl/
**Frequency rank:** 17672

## Meanings
1. To force someone to do something.
2. To make something seem necessary or strongly motivate it.

## Examples
- The new rules compel all drivers to wear seatbelts.
- The gripping story compelled me to keep reading until dawn.

## Derived Forms
- compellable
- compellation
- compelled
- compellence
- compeller
- compelling
- recompel

## Related Forms
- compulsion

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pel- (beat)
- Root: compellen
- Root: compellir
- Root: compello

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Compel is from Middle English compellen, borrowed from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Old English nīedan. Important historical forms include Proto-Indo-European *pel- (beat), Middle English compellen, Middle French compellir, and Latin compello. In present-day use, it can mean to force someone to do something, or to make something seem necessary or strongly motivate it. Derived formations include compellable, compellation, compelled, compellence, compeller.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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