Forces someone to do something against their will; or strongly makes you feel like you must do something.
From Latin 'compellere' (to drive together, force), combining 'com-' (together) and 'pellere' (to drive/push). Used in English since medieval times.
Interestingly, 'compel' originally meant forcing things together physically, but evolved into a psychological meaning—it's the same way 'understand' once meant 'stand under' someone's authority, showing how metaphors reshape meanings!
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