Compelled

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kəmˈpɛld/

Definitions

1. Being influenced by an outside factor to take particular action
2. Experiencing a strong urge or pressure to behave in a specific manner
3. Made to act due to outside pressure or influence ; experiencing an irresistible urge that motivates specific behavior

Etymology: Compel is a fine example of a word that once had a plainer, more physical sense. Its Latin parent, "compellere," joined "com-" (together) to "pellere" (to drive, push), so the original idea was of driving or herding people or things into one place. English borrowed the word through Middle French "compellir" and, by the Middle English period, it was in use for forcing someone to do something. The more striking story is what it displaced. English already had a native word for this idea, Old English "nīedan" (to force, constrain), which was pushed aside by the Latin-derived arrival. "Nīedan" survives only in traces, while "compel" took over the job completely, carrying its image of pressure and driving straight into the modern sense of being forced to act.

Synonyms: forced, obliged

Antonyms: voluntary, willing