Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the
whole subsidy at once. --Hallam.
And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross.
--Mark xv. 21.
2. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to
extort. [R.]
Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part
of his substance. --Shak.
3. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. --Dryden.
I compel all creatures to my will. --Tennyson.
4. To gather or unite in a crowd or company. [A Latinism]
``In one troop compelled.'' --Dryden.
5. To call forth; to summon. [Obs.] --Chapman.
She had this knight from far compelled. --Spenser.
Syn: To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See
{Coerce}.