Obs. Forms: as in COMPASS. [a. OF. cum-, compassement machination, f. compasser to COMPASS: see -MENT.] Compassing; contrivance, machination, plan.
[1292. Britton, I. xii. § 1. Si … il de ceo compassement de tiele felounesse volunté soit atteynt.]
c. 1300. K. Alis., 1345. By heore bothe compissement Kyng Felip was wounded.
1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 255. Þise þre ageyn Edward mad a compassement.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1981. Bi a coynt compacement caste sche sone how bold zhe miȝt hire bere hire best to excuse.
c. 1400. Maundev., xvii. 180. Be experience and sotyle compassement of wytt.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 88. For all the body-wasting industry I haue vsed in thy [knowledge’s] compasment.
