Obs. [ad. L. coact-us, pa. pple. of coagĕre, cōgĕre; see next.]
Compelled, constrained, forced. a. of persons.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. vii. (1554), 79 a. They were coacte after peace to seke.
1487. Newminster Cartul. (Surtees), 263. Not coact nor constrayned.
b. of things: Done under compulsion, forced.
1610. Bp. Carleton, Jurisd., 119. The society ought not to be coact but voluntarie.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 85. For the conversion of these … seemeth to be coact.
Hence † Coactly adv.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 166 b. Mans will … worketh voluntaryly, not coactly.
