Compulse
/kəmˈpʌls/noun
To force, drive, or compel someone to do something.
Did you know?Compulse is a rare English verb built from the same Latin source as compel and compulsion, words historically centered on forcibly driving someone toward an action.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“To push, drive, or beat”
Classical Latin
Latin
pellere
“To drive, push, or force”
Classical Latin
Latin
compellere
“To drive together; force or compel”
Late Latin
Latin
compulsus
“Driven together; compelled”
15th Century
English
compulse
“To compel or force”
Modern English
English
compulse
“To force or drive someone to act; now chiefly rare or archaic”