/COMPEL-meaning

// Verb.

// Pronunciation and accent: kəmpɛl.

// Etymology: from Old French compeller “to compel”, from Latin compellere “to drive together, to compel, urge”, from com- “together” + pellere “to drive”.

// Preterite tense: compelled.

// Preterite participle: compelled.

// Present participle: compelling.

// It is dated from 1300.

// Transitive: 1. (The subject: a person or a thing) to make (a person) do something by compulsion; to urge compulsively or irresistibly (a person) to do a thing.

// Synonyms for “compel”: constrain, necessitate, urge, force, oblige, coerce.

// Antonyms: dissuade, stop, repress, restrain, discourage.

// Translation: contraindre, in French; compeler, in Spanish; costringere, in Italian.

// With the preposition “to” + an infinitive:

"A moment, friends," said Gerard, "with your leave;" and he accompanied his daughter into the house.  He would have stopped in the hall, but she walked on to their room, and Gerard… was compelled to follow her.

B. Disraeli… Sybil… 1845

My head became giddy, and I was compelled to lie down.

J. Frost… The Panorama… 1846

// With the preposition “to” or “into” + noun:

We could never perceive that she suspected us of being her persecutors; and her simplicity, whether real or affected, compelled us to a caution and respect…

M. Brunton… Discipline… 1814

Let us contemplate facts; let us, in the great study of ourselves, resolutely compel the mind to a rigid consideration of itself.

P. Shelley… A Defence of Poetry… 1821

… force it to be still—compel it into peace!

E. Pickering… The Squire… 1837

The citizens, after a little, began to perceive that lord Thomas was not sincerely supported by his men, who had been most of them compelled into the service.

J. Wills… Distinguished Irishmen… 1841

Despite the ascent, Merlin never slackened his pace, but, though his master would have restrained him, held on as before. But the brow of the hill attained, Richard compelled him to a brief halt.

Ainsworth… The Lancashire Witches… 1848

The younger ladies of the house of Gaunt were also compelled into submission.

Thackeray… Vanity Fair… 1848

… she felt the charming sensation… of being compelled into an opinion by a man she loved.

Hardy… Desperate Remedies… 1871

// 2. Obsolete meaning: (the subject: an animated being) to get or take by force or violence.

// 3. (The subject: someone or something) to cause (an action, event, or process) to begin or happen by force; to forcefully motivate (a course of action).

// Synonyms: enforce, constrain, necessitate.

There was a harmony between his thought and its expression, that won attention and compelled admiration.

C. March… Webster… 1868

// 4. Latinism: to drive together; to drive forcibly.

In the meanwhile, the more distinguished persons of each train followed their patrons into the lofty halls and ante-chambers of the royal Palace, flowing on in the same current, like two streams which are compelled into the same channel, yet shun to mix their waters.

Scott… Kenilworth… 1821

// Intransitive: to exert compulsion.

// English words derived from the verb COMPEL: compellability, compellable, compellably, compellation, compellative, compelled, compellent, compeller, compelling, compellingly, uncompellable.

// Words derived from Latin pellere, see COMPULSION.

 

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 /COLLUDE-meaning

// Verb.

// Pronunciation and accent: kəl(j)uːd.

// Third-person singular simple present: she/he colludes.

// Preterite tense, preterite participle: colluded.

// Present participle: colluding.

// It is dated from 1500.

// Etymology: from Latin colludere “to play with someone else, act collusively”, from col- + ludere “to play”. It is identical with Italian colludere and Spanish coludir.

// Intransitive: 1. To act in conspiracy; to act in secret concert with someone; to enter into a collusion; to associate secretly, as if it were a mere play.

// Synonyms for “collude”: conspire, plot, connive.

// Translation: comploter, in French.

Had Max's mind not been wholly preoccupied by one subject, his suspicions must now have been fully aroused, that the occupants of the mansion were quietly colluding in the escape of the prisoner.

Ch… Hoffman… Greyslaer… 1840

// With the preposition “with”:

The Virginians, a hundred years afterwards, suspected Governor Dunmore of colluding with Indians.

Charles Campbell… History… 1860

He not only looted the bank, but falsified its books. He did not commit the crime upon impulse or sudden temptation. He did it deliberately, systematically, colluding with his cashier to plunder the fools who had trusted him.

Watson's Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 1, March, 1906

// Transitive: to do (something) by collusion. Obsolete acceptation.

// English words derived from Latin ludere: deludable, delude, deluded, deludedly, deluder, deluding, deludingly, delusion, delusional, delusionist, delusive, delusively, delusiveness, delusory, undeludable, undelude, undeluded, undelusive, allude, alluded, alluding, allusion, allusive, allusively, allusiveness, colluding, colluder, collusion, collusive, collusively, elude, eluded, eluding, eluder, eludible, elusion, elusive, elusively, elusiveness, elusory, ineludible, ineludibly, illude, illuded, illuding, illuder, illusible, illusion, illusionless, illusionable, illusional, illusionary, illusioned, illusionism, illusionist, illusionistic, illusive, illusively, illusiveness, illusor, illusory, illusorily, illusoriness, disillusion (noun, verb), disillusioned, disillusioning, disillusioner, disillusionist, disillusionary, disillusionize, disillusionizing, disillusionizer, disillusionment, disillusive, ludibrious, ludic, ludicrosity, ludicrous, ludicrously, ludicrousness, ludification, lusory, prelude (noun, verb), preluding, preluder, preludingly, preludial, prelusion, prelusive, prelusively, prelusory, prelusorily, prolusion, prolusory.

 

 /COLLAPSE-meaning

// Verb.

// Pronunciation and accent: kəlæps.

// Etymology: from Latin collapsus, preterite participle of collabi “to fall together, to collapse”, analysed into co- “together” + labi “to fall”. It is identical with Spanish colapsar, and Italian collassare.

// Third-person singular simple present: she/he collapses.

// Preterite tense, preterite participle: collapsed.

// Present participle: collapsing.

// It is dated from 1700.

// Intransitive: 1. (Of a construction, a structure, or of its parts) to fall together or simultaneously, as a result of loss of support or rigidity; to break apart.

// Translation: tomber simultanément, in French.

… in four minutes the explosion took place, the house was destroyed, the roof blown up, the walls collapsed.

Journal of the royal artillery… 1858

With the destruction of the enormous abbey, the whole place collapsed in a general ruin.

Hardy… Jude… 1895

Once the chemical attack had taken place, ettringite crystals formed in the concrete disrupting its structure and reducing its load bearing capacity so much that one beam in the roof collapsed under its own weight.

New Scientist, Jul. 1974

// With the preposition “into” + a noun:

There was no water in the fire hydrants, so that, by the time the firemen reached another water source, the roof had collapsed into the fifth floor, and that in turn had collapsed into the fourth floor.

New York Magazine… Jul. 1972

// 2. (Used with less property)  to fold into a more compact shape or into a flattened form; to shrink suddenly into a smaller volume; contract.

… the balloon has collapsed, and we shall have a tumble into the sea.

Poe… Mellonta… 1849

// 3. (It is referred to a collapsible device, as an umbrella) to fold; to fold up; to become folded; to be reduced to a compact form by folding.

// Antonym: expand.

The construction of common umbrellas, and the contrivances by which they are made to expand or collapse at pleasure, are too familiar known to need description.

G. Long… Penny cyclopaedia… 1843

// 4. Metaphor: (of an animated being) to fall, sit, lean or recline, as if by loss of rigidity.

// Antonym: stand.

Every morning I "go in" at these marks for two or three hours, and then collapse and do nothing whatever (counting as nothing much cricket and rounders).

Dickens… The Letters… 1857-1870

He had ceased to speak to Belsky; he collapsed into a chair, and hid his face in his arms stretched out on the table before him.

Howells… Ragged Lady… 1899

Emelene shuffled uneasily, half rose, and collapsed helplessly back on the cushions, like a baby who has encountered the resistance of his buggy strap.

S. Merwin… The Sturdy Oak… 1917

// 5. Metaphor: to discourage oneself.

// 6. Metaphor: to cease, discontinue, or lose value, virtue or force, as if by collapse; to change into something less than it was.

Her defensive manner collapsed.

T. Hardy… Jude… 1895

// With the prepositions “into” and “to” + noun:

… the habitual sternness of feature which rendered him a terror to the people, had collapsed into feebleness.

G. Croly… Salathiel… 1828

The light… collapsed into a small globule, exceedingly brilliant…, rested a moment on a bed in the corner, quivered, and vanished.

Dickens… The Haunted House… 1859

Had I not been very sea-sick, the sight would have been exciting enough, as I sat wrapped in my oilskins on the bridge; [but] in spite of all my efforts to talk, to eat, and to grin, I soon collapsed into imbecility.

R. Stevenson… Memoir… 1896

// Transitive: 1. To cause to collapse.

// 2. To make collapse (a collapsible device, as an umbrella); this is, to make contract.

// Antonyms: reopen, open, inflate, spread.

This fan-parasol or sun-shade is constructed with a framework of rods or arms, so arranged that, by means of levers, slides, springs, or other contrivances, the shade may be spread or opened, or may be collapsed or closed at pleasure.

The Mechanics’ Magazine… Vol. 61… 1854

Far back on the west end of the northern chain of hills, a Mexican collapsed his telescope, hazarded a long-range shot at the hard-riding Charley.

C. Mulford… The Bar 20 Three… 1921

// With the preposition “into” + noun of the thing resulting from the contraction:

So compact that it can be collapsed into a small bundle for the auto running board, a folding boat is made of mahogany pieces joined by waterproof canvas and can be put together in less than two minutes.

Popular Mechanics, Oct. 1928

// English words derived from Latin labi: collapsable, collapsible, collapse (noun), collapsed, collapsibility, collapsible, collapsing, labile, lability, labilize, labilizing, labilization, labilizer, lapsable, lapsible, lapse (noun, verb), lapsed, lapser, preterlabent, preterlapsed, elapse, elapsing, elapsed, illapse (noun, verb), illapsing, illapsable, prolapse, relapse (noun, verb), relapsed, relapser, relapsing.

 

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 /COITAL-meaning

// Adjective.

// Pronunciation: kəʊɪtəl

// Etymology: from coitus suffixed with -al. It is identical with Italian coitale, Spanish coital, and French coïtal. Coitus is the participle of Latin coire “to go together”, composed with co- (instead of cum: with) + ire “go”. 

// Meaning: relating to, or caused by, coitus.

Coital Techniques in Marriage

Kinsey… Sexual Behavior… 1998

… variation in coital positions.

Kinsey… Sexual Behavior… 1998

They found orgasms from coitus to be less intense than orgasms from noncoital means. This finding was validated by Hite…, who found the clitorally stimulated orgasm to be more intense than the orgasm from coitus. Hite also found the coital orgasm to be more diffused throughout the body than was the locally intense clitoral orgasm.

J. Greenberg… Human Sexuality… 2007

// English words derived from Latin ire are listed in this dictionary under the entry COITION.

 

 /CLING-meaning

// Verb.

// Pronunciation: klɪŋ.

// Etymology: from Anglo-saxon clingan “to adhere; to shrivel”.

// Third-person singular simple present: she (he) clings.

// Preterite tense, preterite participle: clung.

// Present participle: clinging.

// It is dated from 800.

// Intransitive: 1. Obsolete and pristine meaning: a. (Of clay, liquids, etc.) to become stiff or firm because of the adherence of its particles, as when it freezes. b. (Of animal or vegetable tissue) to shrink, or wither, as from heat, cold, etc.

// 2. (Of the molecules, or of the particles of a homogeneous body) to adhere to each other in cohesion; to be in cohesion.

// Synonyms for “cling”: cohere, join.

// Antonyms of “cling”: divide, disjoin, unfasten, disintegrate.

// Translation: cohesionarse, in Spanish; aderire, in Italian; adhérer, in French.

// With the preposition “to” + noun:

… I know that, while one stone clings to another, it [the place] will be defended.

Pierce Egan… Robin Hood… 1840

Adhesion is the force with which two bodies of different kinds cling to each other when united; cohesion is that which unites the particles of a homogeneous body with each other. Thus, the particles which form a drop of water or quicksilver are united by cohesion; the particles of water which wet the surface of any body are united to it by adhesion.

T. Brande… A dictionary of science… 1842

Cohesion is that property by which the particles of a body cling to each other.

G. Quackenbos… A natural philosophy… 1860

// With the adverb “together”, in a pleonastic construction:

[Atoms] by mutual attraction, cohere or cling together in masses of various form and magnitude.

Neil Arnott… Elements of physics… 1828

Knowing… that any visible mass of matter is a collection of minute atoms, it may be asked by what cause they are made to cohere or cling together?

Mechanic and Engineer’s Magazine… 1842

The dust, grains, or atoms, in all varieties of shape and size, adhere or cling together by a power called attraction.

J. Hogg… Elements… 1853

// 3. a. (Of a body) to adhere accidentally to another. b. (Of two or more bodies) to be accidentally juxtaposed as if in an aggregate.

The farther business of the hemp-dresser need only be an easy beating of the hemp, and that chiefly to separate the fibres that may have clung together in the drying.

The complete Farmer… 1767

Not a word could he utter, for his tongue, in its fright, clung with terror to his upper jaw.

F. Marryat… Olla… 1840

By the river-side we see pieces of straw, chips, and other light bodies, clinging to each other, whirling in the eddies, and keeping on their journey together.

J. Hogg… Elements… 1853

M. Donny has proved that, if water be thoroughly purged of its air, a long glass tube filled with this liquid may be inverted, while the tenacity with which the water clings to the tube, and with which its particles cling to each other, is so great that it will remain securely suspended, though no external hindrance be offered to its descent.

J. Tyndall… The Glaciers of the Alps… 1860

All that week it was hard weather. The grass showed white in the morning with the hoar-frost which clung like tiny comfits to every blade.

MacDonald… At the Back of the North Wind… 1868

// 4. (Of a part of the natural body) to be naturally adhered to another; to be naturally continuous to each other.

// Synonyms: cohere, join.

// Antonyms: divide, disjoin, disintegrate.

When they issued from the stunted woods which clung to the barren sides of the mountain, upon a flat and mossy rock that formed its summit, they met the morning.

Cooper… The last of the Mohicans… 1826

It was almost a skeleton-hand; but the black and rotting flesh still clung to it, and the fibres were not so far decomposed as to cease to hold the joints of the fingers together.

G. Reynolds… The mysteries of London… 1844

Among the bare trees, the fig occupies a conspicuous place…Their old leaves cling to them almost until they put on their new dress in spring.

J. Dix… A winter in Madeira… 1850

The apples that are not ripe cling to the tree.

J. Abbott… Learning about common things… 1857

He examined the skulls; but the hair, portions of which clung to nearly all of them, was in every case that of an Indian.

F. Parkman… France and England… 1908

// 4. (Of a body part, as skin or flesh) to stay adhered to another part as the result of shrivelling.

When this disease has been properly treated, and apparently subdued, this horse cannot be quickly and summarily dismissed to his work. He is sadly emaciated… his skin clings to his ribs.

Youatt… The Horse… 1872

// 5. a. (Of an animated being) stick fast as if by adhering; attach oneself tightly or tenaciously to something or someone by grasping with prehensile organ. b. (Of a crawler) to adhere to the surface of something or someone, either to locomote over it or to wait there.

// Translation: asirse (de), in Spanish; attaccarsi (a), in Italian; s’accrocher (à), in French.

// Antonyms: detach, become disconnected.

// Synonym: attach oneself.

The falcon… flies to the animal, that, knowing its danger, endeavours, but too late, to escape. The falcon soon coming up with its prey, fixes its talons, one into the animal’s cheek, the other in its throat… The falcon clings with the utmost perseverance, nor ever leaves its prey till it falls.

O. Goldsmith… A history of the earth… 1774

[Charles] tried to force himself between the two females, who clung close together, to baffle his purpose.

H. Jones… The Gipsy Mother… 1833

// With the preposition “about” or “round” + noun:

… his mother and sisters clung about his neck, and, kissing him tenderly, cried and sobbed aloud.

T. Jacobs… Adventures in the Pacific Ocean… 1844

The good woman… was weeping…, when she started up with a scream, and ran behind her husband.  Her cry was so terrified, that the children started from their sleep and from their beds, and clung about her.

Dickens… The Haunted Man… 1848

A sudden shout went round the wall. It was echoed from side to side, from quarter to quarter. It startled every sleeper, even to the babe on its mother's breast. All knew that there was some fearful danger… Little boys and girls sprang up in their night clothes, and clung round their parents.

M. Sleeper… History of the Swiss… 1859

// With the preposition “to” (it implies idea of contact by means of the one of direction) + noun:

The young sloth, from tlhe moment of its birth, clings to the body of its parent until it gains sufficient size and strength to shift for itself.

O. Goldsmith… A History of the Earth… 1774

All along the swampy banks of the river Niger…, where the sun is hot, the forests thick, and the men but few, the serpents cling among the branches of the trees…

O. Goldsmith… A History of the Earth… 1774

[The Carolina Parrots] are particularly attached to the large sycamores, in the hollow of the trunks and branches of which they generally roost, thirty or forty, and sometimes more, entering at the same hole. Here they cling close to the sides of the tree, holding fast by the claws and also by the bills.

A. Wilson… American ornithology… 1808

… with a startled and ghastly consciousuess, they recognized each other. The wife staggered, and clung to a post for support.

Bulwer-Lytton… Paul… 1830

Almost instinctively, Margaret clung to Norfolk for protection; and the latter, grasping her in his arms, rushed with her to the edge of the platform.

H. Jones… The Scottish Chieftains… 1831

The remainder of the crew rose to the surface and clung to the side of the boat.

Marryat… Jacob Faithful… 1842

The woodpeckers flew from tree to tree, or clung to the rails of the fences.

Marryat… The Settlers in Canada… 1844

Only two men floated. They both clung to the main yard of the ship, which had broken from the mast, and now supported them.

Dickens… A Child’s History… 1867

// In reciprocal construction:

[The bats] are there in such numbers, that, when they fly, they obscure the setting sun. In the morning, at peep of day, they are seen sticking upon the tops of the trees, and clinging to each other, like bees when they swarm.

O. Goldsmith… A history of the earth… 1774

They clung to each other like two children who have been frightened by a nightmare.

A. Miller… The Sturdy Oak… 1917

// With the preposition “by “+ noun of the prehensile organ or of the hold:

The earth-worm…, in order to move forward, lengthens the body; then, by the forepart clings to the ground where it has reached, and then contracts and brings up its rear.

O. Goldsmith… A History of the Earth… 1774

A very beautiful male [bird] was brought me this season…, which I put into a wire cage, and placed in a retired shaded part of the room. After fluttering about for some time, the weather being uncommonly cool, it clung by the wires, and hung in a seemingly torpid state for a whole forenoon.

A. Wilson… American Ornithology… 1808

… which we took for crows at a distance, but which proved to be bats when we came nearer. They clung to the twigs by the hooked claws, which are at the extremity of their webbed fingers and toes; sometimes they hung with the head downwards, and sometimes the reverse.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

Arthur was making his way down, his face to the cliff, to which he clung by both hands, grasping the tufts of grass and seizing hold of bits of rock as he went.

L. Cameron… The mystery… 1838

I managed with great difficulty to set my foot on this, snatched at, and caught hold of, the top of the rock with the ends of my fingers… —with strength more than natural I clung by my hands alone.

C. Johns… A week at the Lizard… 1848

Ruthven now drew his dagger, and calling out that their business was with Riccio, made an effort to seize him; whilst this miserable victim, springing behind the queen, clung by her gown.

P. Tytler… History of Scotland… 1864

// With the preposition “with” + noun of the prehensile organ:

I was dreadfully frightened, and so giddy that I clung to him with both hands.

Dickens… Great expectations… 1861

The Australian opossum is a marsupial quadruped, living in trees and feeding on insects, eggs, and fruits. Its body is about twenty-five inches in length, besides which it has a long prehensile tail, with which it clings to the branches of the trees in which it lives.

S. Smiles… A Boy's Voyage…1872

// 6. a. (Of textile fabric) to fit closely the wearer, as if following its contours. b. (Of film) to adhere to an object, without being affixed. 

// Synonyms: cleave, stick,

// With “about” or with “to” + noun:

The frock was of light silk, and clung to her with wet, and her feet were protected merely by thin slippers.

E. Bronte… Wuthering Heights… 1847

The air was cold and frosty, and their wet garments clung to them like ice.

A. Pinkerton… The Spy… 1883

Townshead assisted them to unpack the hamper, and while they were busy over it, his daughter came in. It was apparently raining, for the thin white dress clung about her, and she seemed very white and weary.

H. Bindloss… Alton of Somasco… 1905

// 7. (Of a plant) to extend to the surface of a wall, another plant, etc., as if adhering to its contours.

The rose and honeysuckle clung to the cottage walls; the ivy crept round the trunks of the trees; and the garden-flowers perfumed the air with delicious odours.

Dickens… Oliver… 1838

The vegetation was thick by the river bank. Great plants, as yet unnamed, grew among the roots of the big trees... Many flowers and a creeper with shiny foliage clung to the exposed stems.

H. Wells… The Treasure in the Forest… 1894

They found wild grapes… in the woods, and gathered them by cutting down the trees to which the vines clung.

F. Parkman… France and England… 1908

// 8. Metaphor: a. (The subject: something incorporeal) to remain attached to someone or something else, as if in adherence. b. (The subject: a person) to remain attached or loyal to something. 

I could not shake off the bodement; it clung upon me like a cold waxen winding-sheet, until I could see nothing but dangers in our sailing.

J. Galt… Lawrie Todd… 1830

Every where there is a class of men who cling with fondness to whatever is ancient.

T. Macaulay… History of England… 1849

He felt that nothing could ever make him care for anyone but her; he clung to her remembrance as a faithful mastiff would to that of an absent master.

T. Gwynne… The school for fathers… 1852

// Transitive: (it is rarely used) to cause (something) to cling to something else.

// Synonym: to fasten.

… although I made use of his tail for a bridle, holding it fast with both my hands, and clung my legs as close to his sides as I could, yet we both came down together into the middle of the kennel.

Swift… The Works… 1732

Elthrida recovered her consciousness, and rushed towards Albert, who clung his left arm as fast as a bar of gold round her waist.

The Olio… 1833

// English words derived from CLING: clinger, cling (noun), clinginess, clinging (noun, adj.), clingingly, clingingness, clingy, uncling.

 

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