[f. COMPACT a.; or, through it, f. compact- ppl. stem of L. compingĕre, of which it has thus become the representative. In the present stem, of later appearance than the pa. pple. compact, which continued a true pple. (as in ‘I have compact’) after 1600; occas. the pa. t. also was made compact.]
1. trans. To join or knit (things) firmly and tightly together, or to each other; to combine closely into a whole; to consolidate by close conjunction.
1530. Palsgr., 490/2. I compacte a thing shorte togyther to make it stronge, je trousse.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 478. [They] can not be the body of Christe, except both be ioyned and coupled and compacted together in one breade.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Coloss. ii. 19. The whole body by joyntes and bandes being served and compacted.
1666. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 75. The Architraves were compacted to their Supporters by Tenons and Mortises.
1674. Flatman, Poems, Orpheus & E., 19. My Layes compacted Thebes.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 240. The Ligaments, that should compact and keep them [Limbs] in their Functions.
1768. Boswell, Corsica, Pref. 18. After he has arranged, compacted and polished.
1879. Chr. Rossetti, Seek & Find, 27. Those forces which … guide, compact, dissolve, the members of the material universe.
b. To press or pack together (component atoms or parts); to compress, condense, solidify.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Virtue, iii. Sweet spring, full of sweet dayes and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie.
1712. Blackmore, Creation, II. (1715), 45.
| Now the bright Sun compacts the precious Stone, | |
| Imparting radiant Lustre, like his own. |
1827. Steuart, Planter’s G. (1828), 293. To fill in mould firmly … and to compact it with the Rammer.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 490. Causing the atmospheric pressure to operate in compacting the pulp into paper.
c. transf. and fig. of non-material things and persons.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., II. xii. 147. For ordering and compacting them in one volume.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., I. I. 4. Forty years of peace had compacted those two nations into one body.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., 6. Adjusting and compacting loose sentiments.
1870. Pall Mall G., 23 Aug., 1. The military system completes and compacts what the national education has commenced.
2. To form or frame by close and tight combination or conjunction; to make up or compose.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 205. He compacted of wood, wyer, paste and paper, a Roode of … exquisite arte.
c. 1580. Hours Blessed Virg., 99. Wth sinewes and wth bones Thou hast compact me.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., X. lix. (1612), 258. So modest, wittie, affable, had Nature her compact.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon (1714), I. 74. The Foundation of the Walls … compacted of Moor-stone and Lime.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., VIII. vii. Who out of nothing all things did compact.
1879. E. W. Gosse, in Academy, 25. The light and shade that make biography amusing are compacted of partisanship and of malice.
b. fig.; also with up.
1533. More, Answ. Poisoned Bk., Wks. 1087/2. He … hath in lesse then thre lines, compacted vp together such three abomynable blasphemous heresies.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 11. Their whole religion is compacted, and contriued for gaine.
† 3. fig. To confirm, give consistency to. Obs.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 362. Informe her full of my particular feare, And thereto adde such reasons of your owne, As may compact it more.
