Compulsing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Constraining or pressing someone to do something against their will, in the manner of an overpowering force
2. Driving another person toward an action through irresistible pressure or authority that leaves little room for choice
3. Obliging or forcing someone to act, as an outside power would when it overrides their own inclination

Etymology: "Compulsing" is the present participle of "compulse", a verb meaning to compel or drive someone to do something. The verb is built from the Latin "compellere", "to drive together" or "to force", made of "com-" ("together") and "pellere" ("to drive"). The same Latin root gave English "compel", which is the more familiar form and the one "compulse" was formed alongside. The participle takes its sense from the verb's core idea of pressing or driving something forward with force. Because the source for this specific form is thin, the exact date of "compulse" in English is not recorded here, so the picture is best understood through the shared root with "compel" rather than through a single documented first use.