Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to compel
Participle: compeled; compelled
Gerund: compeling; compelling
Cognates
-
Indicative
Present
| I | compel |
| you | compel |
| he;she;it | compels |
| we | compel |
| you | compel |
| they | compel |
Perfect
| I | have compeled; compelled |
| you | have compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | has compeled; compelled |
| we | have compeled; compelled |
| you | have compeled; compelled |
| they | have compeled; compelled |
Past
| I | compeled; compelled |
| you | compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | compeled; compelled |
| we | compeled; compelled |
| you | compeled; compelled |
| they | compeled; compelled |
Pluperfect
| I | had compeled; compelled |
| you | had compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | had compeled; compelled |
| we | had compeled; compelled |
| you | had compeled; compelled |
| they | had compeled; compelled |
Future
| I | will compel |
| you | will compel |
| he;she;it | will compel |
| we | will compel |
| you | will compel |
| they | will compel |
Future Perfect
| I | will have compeled; compelled |
| you | will have compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | will have compeled; compelled |
| we | will have compeled; compelled |
| you | will have compeled; compelled |
| they | will have compeled; compelled |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | compel |
| you | compel |
| he;she;it | compel |
| we | compel |
| you | compel |
| they | compel |
Perfect
| I | have compeled; compelled |
| you | have compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | have compeled; compelled |
| we | have compeled; compelled |
| you | have compeled; compelled |
| they | have compeled; compelled |
Imperfect
| I | compeled; compelled |
| you | compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | compeled; compelled |
| we | compeled; compelled |
| you | compeled; compelled |
| they | compeled; compelled |
Pluperfect
| I | had compeled; compelled |
| you | had compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | had compeled; compelled |
| we | had compeled; compelled |
| you | had compeled; compelled |
| they | had compeled; compelled |
Conditional
Present
| I | would compel |
| you | would compel |
| he;she;it | would compel |
| we | would compel |
| you | would compel |
| they | would compel |
Perfect
| I | would have compeled; compelled |
| you | would have compeled; compelled |
| he;she;it | would have compeled; compelled |
| we | would have compeled; compelled |
| you | would have compeled; compelled |
| they | would have compeled; compelled |
Imperative
| you | compel |
| we | Let's compel |
| you | compel |
Verbs conjugated like 'compel'
annul,
bevel,
cancel,
carol,
cavil,
channel,
chisel,
compel,
control,
counsel,
court-martial,
cudgel,
decontrol,
dial,
dispel,
dowel,
drivel,
duel,
empanel,
enamel, etc. (List truncated at 20 verbs)
Verbs similar to 'compel'
coppel,
chapel,
comber,
come,
comp,
compear,
compeer,
compere,
compete,
compile,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- force
- coerce, constrain, make, oblige, drive, exact, enforce, impel
- bend
- suppress, bow, overpower, subdue, quash, subject, quell
- control
- master, boss, dominate, manipulate, tyrannize
Antonyms
- force
- impotence, frailty, feebleness, inability
- bend
- straighten, stiffen, extend, stand
- control
- neglect, ignore, mismanage, misconduct
Additional Information
The forms with ortographic changes are used in British English, in American English the doubling of the consonant is usually omitted.
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
1. c.1350, from O.Fr.
compellir, from L.
compellere "to drive together," from
com- "together" +
pellere "to drive."
2. Etymology tree
3. Proto-Indo-European *ḱe?
4. Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
5. Proto-Italic *kom
6. Proto-Italic *kom-
7. Latin con-
8. Proto-Indo-European *pel-
9. Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂-der.
10. Proto-Indo-European *-né-der.
11. Proto-Italic *pelnōder.
12. Latin pellō
13. Latin compellerebor.
14. Middle French compellirbor.
15. Middle English compellen
16. English compel
17. From Middle English compellen, borrowed from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Old English nīedan. See: Latin '
compello'.
Verbs referencing "compel"
Portuguese
compelir.
Sample Sentences
-
Not being able, in the absence of any change of clothes, to go to church that day, we were compelled to decline these kindnesses, one and all; and I was reluctantly obliged to forego the delight of hearing Dr. Channing, who happened to preach that morning for the first time in a very long [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
The tone of society in Boston is one of perfect politeness, courtesy, and good breeding. The ladies are unquestionably very beautiful—in face: but there I am compelled to stop. Their education is much as with us; neither better nor worse. I had heard some very marvellous stories in this respect; but not believing them, was not disappointed. Blue ladies there [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)
-
[...] outlaws ? Do we not know that the man who has been born and bred among its wrongs; who has seen in his childhood husbands obliged at the word of command to flog their wives; women, indecently compelled to hold up their own garments that men might lay the heavier stripes upon their legs, driven and harried by brutal overseers in their time of travail, and becoming mothers on the field of toil, [...]
(American Notes for General Circulation)