Compress Com·press" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compressed ;
p. pr & verbal noun Compressing .] [ Latin
compressus , past participle of
comprimere to compress:
com- +
premere to press. See Press.]
1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water. Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life.
D. Webster.
The same strength of expression, though more compressed , runs through his historical harangues.
Melmoth.
2. To embrace sexually. [ Obsolete]
Pope. Syn. -- To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.
Compress Com"press noun [ French
compresse .]
(Surg.) A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.
Compressed Com·pressed" adjective 1. Pressed together; compacted; reduced in volume by pressure. 2. (Botany) Flattened lengthwise. Compressed-air engine ,
an engine operated by the elastic force of compressed air.
Compressed yeast Com·pressed" yeast A cake yeast made by filtering the cells from the liquid in which they are grown, subjecting to heavy pressure, and mixing with starch or flour.
Compressibility Com·press`i·bil"i·ty noun [ Confer French
compressibilité .]
The quality of being compressible of being compressible; as, the compressibility of elastic fluids.
Compressible Com·press"i·ble adjective [ Confer French
compressible .]
Capable of being pressed together or forced into a narrower compass, as an elastic or spongy substance.
Compressibleness Com·press"ible·ness noun The quality of being compressible; compressibility.
Compression Com·pres"sion noun [ Latin
compressio : confer French
compression .]
The act of compressing, or state of being compressed. "
Compression of thought."
Johnson.
Compression projectile Com·pres"sion pro·jec"tile A projectile constructed so as to take the grooves of a rifle by means of a soft copper band firmly attached near its base or, formerly, by means of an envelope of soft metal. In small arms the modern projectile, having a soft core and harder jacket, is subjected to compression throughout the entire cylindrical part.
Compressive Com·press"ive adjective [ Confer French
compressif .]
Compressing, or having power or tendency to compress; as, a compressive force.
Compressor Com·press"or noun [ Latin ]
Anything which serves to compress ; as:
(a) (Anat.) A muscle that compresses certain parts. (b) (Surg.) An instrument for compressing an artery (esp., the femoral artery) or other part. (c) An apparatus for confining or flattening between glass plates an object to be examined with the microscope; -- called also compressorium . (d) (Machinery) A machine for compressing gases; especially, an air compressor.
Compressure Com·pres"sure noun Compression.
Comprint Com·print" transitive verb & i. 1. To print together. 2. (O. Eng. Law) To print surreptitiously a work belonging to another. E. Phillips.
Comprint Com"print noun (O. Eng. Law) The surreptitious printing of another's copy or book; a work thus printed.
Comprisal Com·pris"al noun The act of comprising or comprehending; a compendium or epitome. A comprisal . . . and sum of all wickedness.
Barrow.
Comprise Com·prise" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Comprised ;
present participle & verbal noun Comprising .] [ From French
compris ,
comprise , past participle of
comprendre , Latin
comprehendere . See
Comprehend .]
To comprehend; to include. Comprise much matter in few words.
Hocker.
Friendship does two souls in one comprise .
Roscommon.
Syn. -- To embrace; include; comprehend; contain; encircle; inclose; involve; imply.
Comprobate Com"pro·bate intransitive verb [ Latin
comprobatus , past participle of
comprobare , to approve wholly.]
To agree; to concur. [ Obsolete]
Sir T. Elyot.
Comprobation Com`pro·ba"tion noun [ Latin
comprobatio .]
1. Joint attestation; proof. [ Obsolete]
Sir T. Browne. 2. Approbation. [ Obsolete]
Foxe.
Compromise Com"pro·mise noun [ French
compromis , from Latin
compromissum a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, from
compromittere to make such a promise;
com- +
promittere to promise. See
Promise .]
1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators. [ Obsolete]
Burrill. 2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement. But basely yielded upon compromise
That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.
Shak.
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
Burke.
An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions.
Hallam.
3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or right. I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them.
Lamb.
Compromise Com"pro·mise transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compromised ;
present participle & verbal noun Compromising .] [ From
Compromise ,
noun ; confer
Compromit .]
1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [ Obsolete]
Laban and himself were compromised
That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied
Should fall as Jacob's hire.
Shak.
2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound. The controversy may easily be compromised .
Fuller.
3. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion. To pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances.
Motley.
Compromise Com"pro·mise intransitive verb 1. To agree; to accord. [ Obsolete]
2. To make concession for conciliation and peace.
Compromiser Com"pro·mi`ser noun One who compromises.
Compromissorial Com`pro·mis·so"ri·al adjective Relating to compromise. [ R.]
Chalmers.
Compromit Com"pro·mit` transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Compromitted ;
present participle & verbal noun Compromitting .] [ Latin
compromittere . See
Compromise ,
noun ]
1. To pledge by some act or declaration; to promise. State Trials (1529). 2. To put to hazard, by some indiscretion; to endanger; to compromise; as, to compromit the honor or the safety of a nation.
Comprovincial Com`pro·vin"cial adjective Belonging to, or associated in, the same province. [ Obsolete] --
noun One who belongs to the same province. [ Obsolete]
The six islands, comprovincial
In ancient times unto Great Britain.
Spenser.
Compsognathus Comp·sog"na·thus (kŏmp*sŏg"nȧ*thŭs)
noun [ New Latin , from Greek
kompo`s elegant, pretty +
gna`qos jaw.]
(Zoology) A genus of Dinosauria found in the Jurassic formation, and remarkable for having several birdlike features.
Compt Compt (kount,
formerly kŏmt; 215)
noun [ French
compte . See
Count an account.]
Account; reckoning; computation. [ Obsolete]
Shak.
Compt Compt transitive verb [ French
compter . See
Count ,
transitive verb ]
To compute; to count. [ Obsolete] See
Count .
Compt Compt adjective [ Latin
comptus , past participle of
comere to care for, comb, arrange, adorn.]
Neat; spruce. [ Obsolete]
Cotgrave.
Compte rendu Compte" ren`du [ French] A report of an officer or agent.
Compter Compt"er noun A counter. [ Obsolete]
Shak.
Comptible Compt"i·ble adjective [ See
Compt ,
transitive verb ]
Accountable; responsible; sensitive. [ Obsolete]
I am very comptible even to the least sinister usage.
Shak.
Comptly Compt"ly adverb Neatly. [ Obsolete]
Sherwood.
Comptograph Comp"to·graph noun [ French
compter to count +
-graph .]
A machine for adding numbers and making a printed record of the sum.
Comptometer Comp·tom"e·ter noun [ See
Count ;
-meter .]
A calculating machine; an arithmometer.
Comptrol Comp·trol" noun & v. See Control .
Comptroler Comp·trol"er noun A controller; a public officer whose duty it is to examine certify accounts.
Compulsative Com·pul"sa·tive adjective [ From Latin
compulsare , v. intens. of
compellere . See
Compel .]
Compulsatory. [ R.]
Shak.
Compulsatively Com·pul"sa·tive·ly adverb By compulsion. [ R.]
Compulsatory Com·pul"sa·to·ry adjective Operating with force; compelling; forcing; constraining; resulting from, or enforced by, compulsion. [ R.]
To recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory , those foresaid lands.
Shak.
Compulsion Com·pul"sion noun [ Latin
compulsio . See
Compel .]
The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force. If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion .
Shak.
With what compulsion and laborious flight
We sunk thus low.
Milton.
Syn. -- See
Constraint .
Compulsive Com·pul"sive adjective Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives.
Sharp.
Compulsively Com·pul"sive·ly adverb By compulsion; by force.
Compulsorily Com·pul"so·ri·ly adverb In a compulsory manner; by force or constraint.
Compulsory Com·pul"so·ry adjective [ Late Latin
compulsorius .]
1. Having the power of compulsion; constraining. 2. Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to compulsion. This contribution threatening to fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory .
Burke.
Compunct Com·punct" adjective [ Late Latin
compunctus , past participle ]
Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken. [ Obsolete]
Compunction Com·punc"tion noun [ Old French
compunction , French
componction , Latin
compunctio , from
compungere ,
compunctum , to prick;
com- +
pungere to prick, sting. See
Pungent .]
1. A pricking; stimulation. [ Obsolete]
That acid and piercing spirit which, with such activity and compunction , invadeth the brains and nostrils.
Sir T. Browne.
2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience. He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction .
Clarendon.
Syn. --
Compunction ,
Remorse ,
Contrition .
Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offended God or brought evil upon one's self or others.
Compunction is the pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true
contrition , which denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of
remorse ; of
compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep
contrition in view of our past lives. See
Regret .
Compunctionless Com·punc"tion·less adjective Without compunction.
Compunctious Com·punc"tious adjective Of the nature of compunction; caused by conscience; attended with, or causing, compunction. That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose.
Shak.
Compunctiously Com·punc"tious·ly adverb With compunction.