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Today it means

compel

to force

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Where does the word "compel" come from? It comes from Latin compellere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "compel" come from? It comes from Latin compellere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Compel’s story begins in Latin: compellere meant “to drive together.” 'com-' plus 'pellere', to drive. It reached English by 1300s as compel. 'compelling' as fascinating dates from the 1900s. Today, compel means to force.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient compellere "to drive together", 'com-' plus 'pellere', to drive.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s compel "to force", 'compelling' as fascinating dates from the 1900s.

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