Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi.
4.
We the globe can compass soon. --Shak.
2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to
environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round,
around, and round about.
With terrors and with clamors compassed round.
--Milton.
Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee
about. --Shak.
Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and
compass thee round. --Luke xix.
43.
3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power;
to obtain; to accomplish.
If I can check my erring love, I will: If not, to
compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak.
How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham.
4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in
carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak.
5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
Compassing and imagining the death of the king are
synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose
or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common
speech, the carrying such design to effect.
--Blackstone.
She came . . . into the compassed window. --Shak.