v. arch. Also 5 compesse. [ad. L. compescĕre to fasten together, restrain, curb. Since 16th c. only in Sc. writers.] trans. To restrain, repress, curb.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xiv. By manly force rathest there compesse The spyryte of Ire and melancolye.
1637. Gillespie, Eng.-Pop. Cerem., III. viii. 176. A coactive power to compesce the turbulent.
1680. trans. Buchanan’s De Jure Regni (1689), 27. A Plaister to compesce the Eruptions of Flegm.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1751), 102. Compesce me, muse, these stout bravadoes.
1721. Wodrow, Suff. Ch. Scot. (1828), I. Introd. 21. Tyranny which was compesced with very much ado.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VII. XVIII. iii. 132. Oldenburg … has coerced and compesced them into soldierly obedience.
