Etymology of the English word compel
the English word
compelderived from the Latin word
compellere (drive together , round up; force)
using the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Latin word
pellere (beat; drive out; push)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*pel-Date
The earliest known usage of compel in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
compelling,
compelledUsage
Word found in Modern English
