[f. as prec. + -ING1.] The action of the verb COMPASS.
1. A devising, planning; a device, design, artifice, contrivance.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27286. Wit quentise and wit compasing, vt of his denn þe nedder bring.
c. 1375. Barbour, Troy-bk., II. 2140. Throw Dyomedis compassinge Hire broþir was slayne.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 1188. Many subtil compassinges, Babewinnes and pinacles, Ymageries and tabernacles, I saw.
1486. Act 3 Hen. VII., c. 14. Such false Compassings, Imaginations, and Confederacies had against any Lord.
1681. Trial S. Colledge, 3. Treasons and trayterous Imaginations, Compassings and Purposes.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 78. Compassing or imagining … are synonymous terms; the word compass signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect.
1848. Act 11 Vict. (Better Security of Crown). Compassings, imaginations, inventions, devices.
2. A going round or about, a circuit; surrounding, circling, or curving.
1530. Palsgr., 207. Compassyng of tyme, reuolution.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 209. Francis Drake … in the compassing of the World.
† b. Circumlocution. Obs.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., Circuition de parolles, a compassing in with wordes.
1580. Apol. Pr. Orange, in Phœnix, I. 453. I had not used … any Circuits or Compassings of words.
3. Attaining, achieving. arch.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretarie, I. (1625), 90. The compassing thereof.
1659. Fuller, App. Inj. Innoc., III. 57. There was no compassing of it without compace-ing it; no reaching the end without going out of the way.
1769. [see 1].
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. iii. 44. The compassing of vast distances.
† 4. Adulteration (of wine). Obs.
1703. Art of Vintners, 20. The Transmutation or Sophistication of Wines, which they call Trickings or Compassings.
