Compass Com"pass (kŭm"p
a s)
noun [ French
compas , from Late Latin
compassus circle, prop., a stepping together;
com- +
passus pace, step. See
Pace ,
Pass .]
1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. They fetched a compass of seven day's journey.
2 Kings iii. 9.
This day I breathed first; time is come round,
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass .
Shak.
2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall. 3. An inclosed space; an area; extent. Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass .
Addison.
4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination. The compass of his argument.
Wordsworth.
5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within . In two hundred years before (I speak within compass ), no such commission had been executed.
Sir J. Davies.
6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument. You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass .
Shak.
7. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction. He that first discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses.
Locke.
8. A pair of compasses. [ R.] See
Compasses. To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please.
Swift.
9. A circle; a continent. [ Obsolete]
The tryne compas [ the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. Skeat. ]
Chaucer.
Azimuth compass .
See under Azimuth . --
Beam compass .
See under Beam . --
Compass card ,
the circular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs. --
Compass dial ,
a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day. --
Compass plane (Carp.) ,
a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork. --
Compass plant ,
Compass flower (Botany) ,
a plant of the American prairies ( Silphium laciniatum ), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south. Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet:
This is the compass flower .
Longefellow.
--
Compass saw ,
a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also fret saw and keyhole saw . --
Compass timber (Shipbuilding) ,
curved or crooked timber. --
Compass window (Architecture) ,
a circular bay window or oriel window. --
Mariner's compass ,
a kind of compass used in navigation. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also rhumbs , and the glass- covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position. --
Surveyor's compass ,
an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See Circumferentor . --
Variation compass ,
a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle. --
To fetch a compass ,
to make a circuit.
Compass Com"pass (kŭm"p
a s)
transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compassed (- p
a st);
present participle & verbal noun Compassing .] [ French
compasser , Late Latin
compassare .]
1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of. 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. [ Obsolete 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.
Compassable Com"passˇaˇble adjective Capable of being compassed or accomplished. Burke.
Compassed Com"passed adjective Rounded; arched. [ Obsolete]
She came . . . into the compassed window.
Shak.
Compasses Com"passˇes noun ,
plural An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or (rarely) more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move. » The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points, pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable points are generally called
dividers . See
Dividers .
Bow compasses .
See Bow- compass . --
Caliber compasses ,
Caliper compasses .
See Calipers . --
Proportional ,
Triangular , etc.,
compasses .
See under Proportional , etc.
Compassing Com"passˇing adjective (Shipbuilding) Curved; bent; as, compassing timbers.
Compassion Comˇpas"sion noun [ French, from Latin
compassio , from
compati to have compassion;
com- +
pati to bear, suffer. See
Patient .]
Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Womanly ingenuity set to work by womanly compassion .
Macaulay.
Syn. -- Pity; sympathy; commiseration; fellow-feeling; mercy; condolence. See
Pity .
Compassion Comˇpas"sion transitive verb To pity. [ Obsolete]
Shak.
Compassionable Comˇpas"sionˇaˇble adjective Deserving compassion or pity; pitiable. [ R.]
Barrow.
Compassionate Comˇpas"sionˇate adjective 1. Having a temper or disposition to pity; sympathetic; merciful. There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate .
South.
2. Complaining; inviting pity; pitiable. [ R.]
Shak. Syn. -- Sympathizing; tender; merciful; pitiful.
Compassionate Comˇpas"sionˇate transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compassionated ;
present participle & verbal noun Compassionating .]
To have compassion for; to pity; to commiserate; to sympathize with. Compassionates my pains, and pities me.
Addison.
Compassionately Comˇpas"sionˇateˇly adverb In a compassionate manner; mercifully. Clarendon.
Compassionateness Comˇpas"sionˇateˇness noun The quality or state of being compassionate.
Compassless Com"passˇless adjective Having no compass. Knowles.
Compaternity Com`paˇter"niˇty noun [ Late Latin
compaternitas , from
compater godfather;
com- +
pater father.]
The relation of a godfather to a person. [ Obsolete]
The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the canon law is a spiritual affinity.
Sir J. Davies.
Compatibility Comˇpat`iˇbil"iˇty noun [ Confer French
compatibilité .]
The quality or power of being compatible or congruous; congruity; as, a compatibility of tempers; a compatibility of properties.
Compatible Comˇpat"iˇble adjective [ French, from Late Latin
compatibilis , from Latin
compati . See
Compassion .]
Capable of existing in harmony; congruous; suitable; not repugnant; -- usually followed by with . Our poets have joined together such qualities as are by nature the most compatible .
Broome.
Syn. -- Consistent; suitable; agreeable; accordant.
Compatibleness Comˇpat"iˇbleˇness noun Compatibility; consistency; fitness; agreement.
Compatibly Comˇpat"iˇbly adverb In a compatible manner.
Compatient Comˇpa"tient adjective [ Latin
compatients , present participle of
compati . See
Compassion .]
Suffering or enduring together. [ Obsolete]
Sir G. Buck.
Compatriot Comˇpa"triˇot noun [ French
compatriote , Late Latin
compatriotus ;
com- +
patriota a native. See
Patriot , and confer
Copatriot .]
One of the same country, and having like interests and feeling. The distrust with which they felt themselves to be regarded by their compatriots in America.
Palfrey.
Compatriot Comˇpa"triˇot adjective Of the same country; having a common sentiment of patriotism. She [ Britain] rears to freedom an undaunted race,
Compatriot , zealous, hospitable, kind.
Thomson.
Compatriotism Comˇpa"triˇotˇism noun The condition of being compatriots.
Compear Comˇpear" intransitive verb [ French
comparoir , Latin
comparēre ;
com- +
parēre to appear.]
1. To appear. [ Obsolete]
2. (Law) To appear in court personally or by attorney. [ Scot.]
Compeer Comˇpeer" [ Middle English
comper , through French from Latin
compar ;
com- +
par equal. See
Peer an equal, and confer 1st
Compare .]
An equal, as in rank, age, prowess, etc.; a companion; a comrade; a mate. And him thus answer'd soon his bold compeer .
Milton.
His compeer in arms.
Ford.
Compeer Comˇpeer" transitive verb To be equal with; to match. [ R.]
In my rights,
By me invested, he compeers the best.
Shak.
Compeer, Compeir Comˇpeer", Comˇpeir" intransitive verb See Compear .
Compel Comˇpel" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compelled ;
present participle & verbal noun Compelling .] [ Latin
compellere ,
compulsum , to drive together, to compel, urge;
com- +
pellere to drive: confer Old French
compellir . See
Pulse .]
1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force. 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. [ Obsolete]
Chapman. She had this knight from far compelled .
Spenser.
Syn. -- To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See
Coerce .
Compel Comˇpel" intransitive verb To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can
compel ."
Shak.
Compellable Comˇpel"laˇble adjective Capable of being compelled or constrained. Blackstone.
Compellably Comˇpel"laˇbly adverb By compulsion.
Compellation Com`pelˇla"tion noun [ Latin
compellatio , from
compellare to accost, from
compellere . See
Compel .]
Style of address or salutation; an appellation. "Metaphorical
compellations ."
Milton. He useth this endearing compellation , "My little children."
Bp. Beveridge.
The peculiar compellation of the kings in France is by "Sire," which is nothing else but father.
Sir W. Temple.
Compellative Comˇpel"laˇtive noun (Gram.) The name by which a person is addressed; an appellative.
Compellatory Comˇpel"laˇtoˇry adjective Serving to compel; compulsory. [ R.]
Compeller Comˇpel"ler noun One who compels or constrains.
Compend Com"pend noun A compendium; an epitome; a summary. A compend and recapitulation of the Mosaical law.
Bp. Burnet.
Compendiarious Comˇpen`diˇa"riˇous adjective [ Latin
compendiarius .]
Short; compendious. [ Obsolete]
Bailey.
Compendiate Comˇpen"diˇate transitive verb [ Latin
compendiatus , past participle of
compendiare to shorten, from
compendium .]
To sum or collect together. [ Obsolete]
Bp. King.
Compendious Comˇpen"diˇous adjective [ Latin
compendiosus .]
Containing the substance or general principles of a subject or work in a narrow compass; abridged; summarized. More compendious and expeditious ways.
Woodward.
Three things be required in the oration of a man having authority -- that it be compendious , sententious, and delectable.
Sir T. Elyot.
Syn. -- Short; summary; abridged; condensed; comprehensive; succinct; brief; concise.
Compendiously Comˇpen"diˇousˇly adverb In a compendious manner. Compendiously expressed by the word chaos.
Bentley.
Compendiousness Comˇpen"diˇousˇness noun The state or quality of being compendious.
Compendium Comˇpen"diˇum noun ;
plural English
Compendiums , Latin
Compendia . [ Latin
compendium that which is weighed, saved, or shortened, a short way, from
compendere to weigh;
com- +
pendere to weigh. See
Pension , and confer
Compend .]
A brief compilation or composition, containing the principal heads, or general principles, of a larger work or system; an abridgment; an epitome; a compend; a condensed summary. A short system or compendium of a science.
I. Watts.
Syn. -- See
Abridgment .
Compensate Com"penˇsate transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compensated ;
present participle & verbal noun Compensating .] [ Latin
compensatus , past participle of
compensare , prop., to weigh several things with one another, to balance with one another, verb intens. from
compendere . See
Compendium .]
1. To make equal return to; to remunerate; to recompense; to give an equivalent to; to requite suitably; as, to compensate a laborer for his work, or a merchant for his losses. 2. To be equivalent in value or effect to; to counterbalance; to make up for; to make amends for. The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat of the day.
Bacon.
The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries.
Prior.
Syn. -- To recompense; remunerate; indemnify; reward; requite; counterbalance.
Compensate Com"penˇsate intransitive verb To make amends; to supply an equivalent; -- followed by for ; as, nothing can compensate for the loss of reputation.
Compensation Com`penˇsa"tion noun [ Latin
compensatio a weighing, a balancing of accounts.]
1. The act or principle of compensating. Emerson. 2. That which constitutes, or is regarded as, an equivalent; that which makes good the lack or variation of something else; that which compensates for loss or privation; amends; remuneration; recompense. The parliament which dissolved the monastic foundations . . . vouchsafed not a word toward securing the slightest compensation to the dispossessed owners.
Hallam.
No pecuniary compensation can possibly reward them.
Burke.
3. (Law) (a) The extinction of debts of which two persons are reciprocally debtors by the credits of which they are reciprocally creditors; the payment of a debt by a credit of equal amount; a set-off. Bouvier. Wharton. (b) A recompense or reward for some loss or service. (c) An equivalent stipulated for in contracts for the sale of real estate, in which it is customary to provide that errors in description, etc., shall not avoid, but shall be the subject of compensation . Compensation balance ,
or Compensated balance ,
a kind of balance wheel for a timepiece. The rim is usually made of two different metals having different expansibility under changes of temperature, so arranged as to counteract each other and preserve uniformity of movement. --
Compensation pendulum .
See Pendulum . Syn. -- Recompense; reward; indemnification; consideration; requital; satisfaction; set-off.
Compensative Comˇpen"saˇtive adjective [ Late Latin
compensativus .]
Affording compensation.
Compensative Comˇpen"saˇtive noun Compensation. [ R.]
Lamb.
Compensator Com"penˇsa`tor noun 1. One who, or that which, compensates; -- a name applied to various mechanical devices. 2. (Nautical) An iron plate or magnet placed near the compass on iron vessels to neutralize the effect of the ship's attraction on the needle.
Compensatory Comˇpen"saˇtoˇry adjective Serving for compensation; making amends. Jer. Taylor.
Compense Comˇpense" transitive verb [ French
compenser . See
Compensate .]
To compensate. [ Obsolete]
Bacon.
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