compesce

English

Etymology

Latin compēscō (“I restrain”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəmˈpɛs/
• Rhymes: -ɛs

Verb

compesce (third-person singular simple present compesces, present participle compescing, simple past and past participle compesced)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To keep in check; to restrain or hold down
   • 1858, Thomas Carlyle, History of Friedrich II of Prussia:

     And has coerced and compesced them (all that did not contrive to desert) into soldierly obedience[.]

References

• “compesce”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Latin

Verb

compesce

1. second-person singular present active imperative of compescō