(a. and adv.) Forms: 3–6 compace, 3–7 -pas(e, 4–7 -passe, (5 compaas, 6 coom-, coumpasse), 4– compass; also 3–6 cumpas, 4 -pass, -pase, 4–6 -passe, 5 Sc. cumpaiss, (8 cumpace). [a. F. compas (12th c. in Littré) ‘measure, pair of compasses, circle’; in mod.F. also ‘mariner’s compass’; = Pr. compas, Sp. compas ‘pair of compasses, measure, rule of life, pattern,’ Pg. compasso ‘pair of compasses,’ It. compasso ‘a compasse, a round, also a paire of compasses’ (Florio); med.L. compassus = circinus pair of compasses (Du Cange). Cf. also Ger. compass, kompass, mariner’s compass, formerly also gnomon, sun-dial, portable dial, Du. kompas, Sw. compass, kompass, Da. compas, Norw. kompas, (all) mariner’s compass. (This is the exclusive sense in the Teutonic langs., as ‘pair of compasses’ is predominant in the Romanic.)
The history of this word and its associated verb in the Romanic langs. has not yet been determined, and it presents many points of uncertainty. It is doubtful whether the sb. is Common Romanic (the Sp. being app. from Fr. or Pr.), and as yet uncertain whether the sb. is derived from the vb., or the vb. from the sb. If the sb. was the origin, it would predicate a L. type *compassus, f. com- together or intensive + ? passus step, pace; if the vb. was the earlier, compassare would be ‘to pass or step together’ or ‘completely’ (see Diez passare), and *compassus, compasso, the action of doing so. The early history of the senses of the sb. is equally obscure: in OF., ‘measure,’ primarily perhaps ‘measure kept in walking together,’ ‘artifice, subtilty,’ and ‘pair of compasses,’ appear all to be early senses; it is at present impossible to say whether the instrument took its name from ‘measuring’ or from ‘equal stepping.’ It is probable that the sense ‘circumference, circle, round,’ which is slightly exemplified in OF., but has received so great a development in Eng., is derived from the name of the instrument; but the converse is also possible; cf. L. circinus compasses, from circa round, etc.; also Ger. zirkel, (1) circle, (2) compasses. The later application to the Mariner’s Compass, recognized in modern French, but chiefly developed in English and the Teut. langs., is also of obscure origin; it may easily have arisen out of the sense ‘circle’ or ‘circuit,’ as showing the circle of the winds; but in German this sense appears to have been preceded by those of ‘gnomon’ and ‘sun-dial,’ which may point in another direction. The Greek name of the circinus or compasses was διαβήτης, from διαβαίνειν to stride or walk with the legs apart, to stride, step, or pass over: it is not impossible that compassus and compassare may have been employed to render these words, and as διαβήτης also meant the gnomon of a sun-dial, it is conceivable that this indicates the way in which compassus came to be used for dial, and mariner’s compass.
The OF. senses all appear early in ME. In the uncertainty as to the relations between these, it is impossible to arrange them in any certain order in Eng., and that adopted is merely provisional, and subject to alteration when Romanic scholars shall have ascertained the previous history of the word in their own domain.]
I. Measure, etc.
† 1. Measure, proper proportion, regularity: e.g., to keep even compass (cf. OF. tenir compas to keep step in marching); by compass (OF. par compas, à compas, It. a compasso), with measure and order, with regularity, regularly. Obs.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 944. Ho watz þe fayrest in felle, of flesche & of lyre, & of compas, & colour, & costes of alle other.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3208. Nature, hadde nevere such a grace, To forge a werk of such compace [Fr. de tel compas].
1475. Caxton, Jason, 92 b. Vignes and trees hyly conduyted by compass.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., iv. (1627), 32. To keepe even compasse in the height, greatnesse, and breadth of his letters.
2. ‘Moderate space, moderation, due limits’ (J.); esp. in Within or out of compass: i.e., within or beyond the bounds of moderation. Obs. exc. dial.
[Possibly arising out of the sense ‘measure,’ but certainly related also to sense 9.]
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 59/2. We cannot bring our selues in compasse vnder it, vnlesse God draws vs to it. Ibid., 133/1. Wee haue need of some order and bridle, to hold vs within our compasse.
1612. Davies, Why Ireland, etc. (J.). In two hundred years before (I speak within compass) no such commission has been executed.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 61. I should not speake much out of compasse, should I say as large as a bushell.
1632. H. Seile, Avgvstus, 166. To keepe these [malecontents] in compasse, Avgvstvs, it being impossible for him to be still resident at Rome, and dangerous to bee absent; constituted a Provost of the Citie, for the most part chosen out of the Senators.
1701. Jer. Collier, Antoninus, 179. Which … keeps those Things which Decay from running out of Compass.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 384. I must keep within Compass.
1887. S. Chesh. Gloss., s.v., To ‘speak i’ compass’ is to speak within limits, to speak guardedly.
II. Artifice, skillful or crafty device.
† 3. Designing, skillful devising, ingenuity; passing into the bad sense of craft, subtlety, cunning. In later use closely associated with the vb. in sense 2: compassing, contriving. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8797 (Cott.). To fest, wit compas slei. Vr warc to-geder.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 739. A trone Of white iuori … Wiþ cumpas iþrowen and with gin al ido.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 462. How maugre Iuno, Eneas, For al hir sleight and hir compas, Acheved al his aventure.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 523. With a compas of clennes to colour hir speche.
1521. St. Werburge (1848), 35. Castynge in his mynde craftely by compas How he myght optayne to the hye empyre.
1526. Wolsey, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. I. v. 66. His refusal proceeded of no manner of compass or intent to protract time for any sinister purpose.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 92. If it come to passe as it is lyke by my compasse.
1597. Bacon, Coulers Good & Evil, ix. (Arb.), 152. Incident to those things that proceede from our owne care, and compasse.
† b. A crafty contrivance or artifice; a stratagem.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 32 § 2. By meanes and compasses to proue a procontracte.
1550. Latimer, Last Serm. bef. Edw. VI., I. 242. These fellows that have their fetches and their far compasses to bring things to their purposes.
1558–9. Act 1 Eliz., c. 5 § 1. Yf any person doo compas or imagyn to deprive the Quenes matie and the same Compasses or Imaginacions … shall or doo utter.
III. The mathematical instrument.
4. An instrument for taking measurements and describing circles, consisting (in its simplest form) of two straight and equal legs connected at one end by a movable joint. Now gen. in pl.; also pair of compasses.
Modifications of this instrument are the BOW-COMPASSES; beam-, calliper- hair-compasses, etc. Similar instruments for describing figures other than circles are specified by a corresponding adj., as elliptic, oval, triangular compasses; also proportional compasses: see these adjs.
α. [c. 1340. Cursor M., 9947 (Trin.). A tour faire of yuory … Craftily casten wiþ a compas. But earlier MSS. wiþ compas.]
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 303. [Perdix] made þe firste compas.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 40. [I] Cleped þat on poynt of my compas A, & þat other poynt F.
c. 1450. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 727/11. Hic circinus, a compas.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 40. Geometrie … teacheth the Vse of the Rule and the Cumpasse.
1701. Swift, Contests in Athens & Rome, Wks. 1755, II. I. 46. But to fix one foot of their compass where-ever they think fit, and extend the other to such terrible lengths, without describing any circumference at all, is to leave us and themselves in a very uncertain state, and in a sort of rotation, that the author of the Oceana never dreamed on.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess., Love, Wks. (Bohn), I. 76. Defined by compass and measuring-wand.
β. 1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., II. x. (Arb.), 134. We tooke owre compases & beganne to measure the sea coastes.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., V. (ed. 7), 589. How to make with your Compasses a perpendicular line to fall from any point giuen vpon another right line.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 224. In his hand He took the golden Compasses, prepar’d … to circumscribe This Universe.
1831. Brewster, Optics, iv. 38. Some point … where … one foot of the compasses is placed.
γ. 1551. Recorde, Castle Knowl. (1556), 37. Haue a payre of compasse aptelye made for to draw the circles.
1790. in Archæol., X. 133. A pair of brass compasses, one of the legs of which is broken off. Ibid. (1840), XXVIII. 378. A pair of curious brass compasses or dividers.
b. Name of a small southern constellation.
1837. Penny Cycl., VII. 185/1. Circinus, the Compasses, a constellation … not very far from the South Pole.
c. humorously, Coryate’s compasses: one’s legs.
1864. Lowell, Fireside Trav., 280. I resolved to give up my saddle to the boy, and try Tom Coryate’s compasses.
IV. Circumference, circle, curve; bound.
† 5. A circumference, a circle. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7586. Þe erth … Es bot als a poynt Imyddes a compase.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 92. As the point in a compas Stant even amiddes.
c. 1400. Maundev., x. 38. A lytill hous made in maner of half a cumpas.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, III. iv. (1483), 52. The compas of this whele was fitched ful of hokes.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 227. All Wallace ost in till a cumpaiss baid.
1530. Palsgr., 207/2. Compas, a cercle or rondell.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xxvii. Now sette I one fote of the compas in G, and extend the other foote vnto H, and so drawe a compas.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., I. IX. (Arb.), 98. Men ioyninge handes togyther & standinge in coompasse.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Semicircle, halfe a circle or compasse.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (1651), 245. If the world is 21,500 miles in compass, its Diameter is 7000.
1655. E. Terry, Voy. E. India, 347. They make a little Circle upon the ground … after which they sit down within that Compasse.
† b. Anything circular in shape, e.g., the globe, the horizon; also, a circlet or ring.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 212. To telle … of these yates florysynges ne of compases ne of kervenges.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 123. Crist in compas of gold In þe wide windowe westwarde.
c. 1475. Partenay, 6270. All rounde the compas though man be sekyng, In all the worlde so noble king is noght.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 73. With seed of Æneas shal coompasse earthlye be ruled.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 455. About the middest goeth a compasse of brasse.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 567. The compass of the eye, orbita.
† c. Phrase: a compass to, in (the) compass of, around, round.
c. 1325. Childh. Jesus, 1660 (Mätz). Isette huy weren a compas To a bord þare inne was.
c. 1350. Ps. lxxviii., in Pref. Wyclif’s Bible, p. iv., note. In the cumpas of Jerusalem.
1382. Wyclif, Mark iii. 34. Biholdynge hem … that saten in the cumpas of hym. Ibid., Rev. iv. 3. A reynbowe was in cumpas of the seete.
1526. Tindale, Rev. vii. 11. All the angelles stode in the compace of the seate.
† 6. A circular arc, sweep, curve. Obs.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 120. Your bowe [must] be well trymmed … that it may come rounde in trew compasse euery where.
1563. Shute, Archit., B j b. Constrained the braunches … to draw downwardes againe with a sertaine compasse.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 3. There doth begin the compasse and bearing of the ship.
1637. Blunt, Voy. Levant, 28. The Promontory … hath two sides encompassed by Sea … with a compasse turning from West to North.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, III. iv. (1715), 49. Slings … somewhat broad in the middle, with an oval Compass, and so by little and little decreasing into two Thongs.
b. Archery. The curved path described by an arrow; the angle of elevation as determining this path; cf. C. 3 b.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 133. The shaft in flyenge … if it flye far, it flyeth a round compace. Ibid., 145. In drawyng [of the bow] some set suche a compasse, as thoughe they woulde tourne about.
1613. Chapman, Rev. Bussy D’Ambois, Plays (1873), II. 156. Tis the … compasse giuen it by the Archer That makes it hit or misse.
1830. Strutt’s Sports & Past. (1876), 124. A good archer … ought also … to be well acquainted with what compass his arrows would require in their flight.
7. The circumference, boundary, enclosing line or limits of any space or area.
a. 1300. [see C. 1].
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8931. Wyþynne þe compas of þe stones [of Stonehenge].
c. 1400. Maundev., vi. 21. Þe compas of þe citee … contenes xxv. myle aboute.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 611. Jack Cade, entending to bring the king farther within the compasse of his nette.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 235. A Palaice … the compasse whereof may be traced out by the ruines of an olde Wall there.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, 3. A grave subject … and a wide one … so wide that I shall make no effort to touch the compass of it.
b. Measurement round, circuit, girth. (Cf. 11.)
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 269. The largenesse and compasse of all creatures corporall.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 95. The Caspian Sea is in compasse neere three thousand miles.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It. (1790), I. ii. 21. A fortification of between two and three miles in compass.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., II. i. 179. Greater in his compass of body, than any within six kingdoms about him.
1882. Shorthouse, J. Inglesant, xxix. Within the confines of the Duke’s chase, thirty miles in compass.
8. Circumscribed area or space; in wider sense, space, area, extent.
In many uses this and the prec. sense are not separable; cf. the ordinary use of ‘circumference’ for ‘circle.’ (Here perh. belongs Chaucer’s trine compas, explained by Prof. Skeat as ‘threefold space, i. e. of the earth, the sea, and the heavens.’ But other explanations have been attempted.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21640 (Cott.). In þis compas godd all has left.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 319. A wyndow … In þe compas of a cubit kyndely s[q]ware.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 45. Of the tryne compas lord and gyde … Whom erthe and see and heuene out of relees Ay heryen.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Macc. i. 15. He entred with a small company into the compasse of the temple.
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 5. A certain compass inclosed all about within the Temple.
1685. Manch. Court Leet Rec. (1888), VI. 231. Lambert Henton hath pailed out a certaine Compas of land.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 27. The Lord’s prayer and ten Commandments [written] in the Compass of a Crown piece.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 363. The … towering hopes of Athens demanded that the new wall should inclose a larger compass.
b. transf. and fig. Of time, etc.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden Soc.), 53. Within the cumpas of that worthi Emperors reign.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 3. I shall draw out the Description in as small a compass as it can be.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), III. 259. In the compass of one verse.
1818. Cruise, Digest, VI. 517. Confined to the compass of a life.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const. (1862), 94. Within the compass of the last four chapters.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. x. 304. Who in the compass of a day performed Such mighty deeds.
9. fig. Bounds, limits, as in within, beyond the compass of (sight, knowledge, power, ability, etc.); range or extent within limits; and, more generally, range, reach, sphere, scope.
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xlvii. 143. The saide witnessis … have deposed of malice … beside and without the compasse of the same articles.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 46. Studies: not falling within the Cumpasse of their Capacitie.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iv. 21. To do this, is within the compasse of mans Wit.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. i. (1647), 1. It cometh within the compasse of our belief.
1655. W. F., Meteors, II. 30. It never goeth down out of the compass of sight, though it be not seen in the day-time for the brightness of the Sun. Ibid., III. 57. Clouds … without the compass of our sight.
1736. Butler, Anal., Introd. 4. The Extent, Compass, and Force, of analogical Reasoning.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., II. vii. 163. Many men … have not a compass of soul to take an interest in any thing truly great.
1823. De Quincey, Lett. Educ., i. (1860), 17. As both had minds not merely powerful, but distinguished for variety and compass of power, so in both were these fine endowments completed and accomplished for works of Herculean endurance and continuity, by the alliance of a bodily constitution resembling that of horses.
1870. Bowen, Logic, 6. The limited compass of the human mind.
b. spec. Intellectual range.
1727. Swift, To Yng. Lady. To discourse of arts and sciences out of your compass.
1737. Waterland, Eucharist, 7. He will … fall short in most Things, for want of Compass, and larger Views.
10. Music. The full range of tones that a voice or musical instrument is capable of producing.
1597. Moxley, Introd. Mus., 7. Phi. Why then was your Scale deuised of xx. notes? Ma. Because that compasse was the reach of most voyces.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 383. You would sound mee from my lowest Note, to the top of my Compasse.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 157, ¶ 4. A Flute, an Instrument … without any great Compass.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., Eloquence, Wks. (Bohn), III. 24. Of all the musical instruments on which men play, a popular assembly is that which has the largest compass and variety.
V. Circuit, round, circuitous course. (Cf. 7 b.)
11. Circular movement, course, or journey, circuit, round; a roundabout journey, a detour. arch.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xv. 19. From Jerusalem by cumpas [per circuitum] til vnto Illiryk I haue fulfillid the gospel of Crist.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 199. They wenten in compas, Daunsinge aboute this flour.
c. 1510. More, Picus, Wks. 19/1. Wicked men walke about in a circuit or coumpasse.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 358. He … shewed with stirring his feete the compasses and pointes of the daunce.
1608–11. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit. (1851), 42. The hawk … towers up, by many gradual compasses, to his highest pitch.
1698. Froger, Voy., 100. The Portuguese … save a large Compass that others are oblig’d to make.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 114. A … hill … so steepe … few Coaches but gaines the top of it by a Compass round it.
b. A circuit of time, round, revolution.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., V. iii. 25. Where I did begin, there shall I end: My life is run his compasse.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Chron. xx. 1. It came to passe after the compasse of a yeare [post anni circulum].
† c. A roundabout expression, a circumlocution.
1623. Lisle, Ælfric on O. & N. T., Pref. 14. Out of this compasse can he not goe.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 86. A tedious Compass of Words and Terms.
d. phr. To cast, fetch, go, set, take a compass: to take a circular or circuitous course, make a circuit or detour; † rarely, to form a circle; fig. to act or speak in a roundabout manner, digress.
c. 1430. Henryson, Mor. Fab. (1865), 185. He kest ane compas far about.
1535. Coverdale, Eccl. i. 5. The wynde goeth towarde ye South, & fetcheth his compase aboute vnto the North.
a. 1555. Latimer, Wks. (Parker Soc.), II. 433. A man that … hath his journey’s end before him, what madness were it for him to set further compass about.
1611. Bible, Acts xxviii. 13. From thence wee fet a compasse, and came to Rhegium.
1654. Evelyn, Diary, 31 July. Taking leave of Cadenham we went a compass into Leicestershire.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 72. To take a compass round behind the pirates camp.
1837. De Quincey, Revolt Tartars, Wks. 1863, IV. 165. Troops of deer … fetching a compass by way of re-entering the forest grounds.
fig. 1677. Gilpin, Demonol. (1867), 56. He falls not directly upon what he intended … but fetcheth a compass.
a. 1693. Tillotson, Serm. (1743), VII. 2251. What a compass do many men fetch to go to heaven, by innumerable devices.
a. 1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, II. xiv. 240. The compass commonly fetched before the pupil can be conducted to the point intended.
VI. The Mariner’s Compass.
12. An instrument for determining the magnetic meridian, or one’s direction or position with respect to it, consisting of a magnetized needle turning freely on a pivot; notably employed in the guidance of a ship’s course at sea (the Mariner’s or Seaman’s compass).
The mariner’s compass consists essentially of three parts, the bowl or BOX (sb.2, sense 15), containing the CARD (sb.2, sense 4) on which the 32 Points of the compass are marked (see POINT), and the NEEDLE. According to its position or use on ship-board it is distinguished as binnacle-, hanging-, standard, steering-compass, etc.
To box the compass: see BOX v.1 12; also in the same sense To say the (or one’s) compass.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B. (Percy Soc.), 12. Some the anker layde … One kepte ye compas and watched ye our glasse.
1521. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 140. Item that I gif William Tyngaite my cardyd and my best compas.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 28. Ane skyppar can nocht gyde his schip to ane gud hevin without direction of his compas.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., viii. 35. The boyes … every Munday … to say their compasse.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 222. Remember in all Transplantings to observe the … Quarter of the Compass.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. III. v. 58. A Tornado … causes the Winds to shift all round the Compass.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. N. Whale Fishery, 145. On the 12, we had the wind almost all round the compass.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket-bk., ii. (ed. 2), 43. When the ship has been placed on her proper course by the Standard Compass, the helmsman will notice the point shown by the Binnacle Compass as being that to which he has to attend.
b. (Varieties of this instrument are specially constructed for particular purposes.
Such are the azimuth compass (see AZIMUTH 2), the dip, surveying, variation compasses, etc.)
1703. Art’s Improv., p. xv. There are now … diverse sorts or kinds of Compasses; as Azimuth Compasses, Meridian Compasses, Variation Compasses, Amplitude Compasses, Hanging Compasses, Pocket Compasses.
1832. Nat. Philos., Magnetism, vi. 60 (Usef. Knowl. Soc.). The land or surveying-compass … furnished with sights, and means for reading off the degrees on the card. Ibid., vi. 61. The Variation Compass designed to exhibit the diurnal changes of variation in the horizontal magnetic needle.
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Compass. An instrument like the ordinary nautical or surveyor’s compass … having a clinometer attached. Also, a dip-compass, for tracing magnetic iron ore, having a needle hung to move in a vertical plane.
c. fig.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess., II. xlviii. (1631), 307. It shall bee … by chance: a compasse too uncertaine for Justice to saile by.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 221, margin. Gods Providence the best compasse.
1649. Eikon Basilike, 117. Profit is the Compasse by which Factious men steer their course.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, I. iii. (1852), 90. From whatever point of the political compass we may set out.
13. Conchol. A kind of shell-fish.
1776. Da Costa, Elem. Conchol., 245. Sometimes the valves are differently coloured, as the Compass, or Sole, which has one valve of a chestnut brown.
B. adj. Round, circular, curved. (Still in technical use: cf. D.)
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 136. It is sette in a compasse pece of yren.
1563. B. Googe, Eglogs (Arb.), 113. Ptholome, with Compasse Globe in hande.
1587. Mirr. Mag., Albanact., xxvii. The Compasse pathes of euery ayrye sphere.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 212. The Dogs … run along … through rough and plain, crooked and straight, direct and compass.
1751. Chesterf., Lett., III. 142. A compass ring set round with little diamonds.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 100. The north front … has a triangular instead of the two compass pediments.
C. adv. [Cf. in compass.]
† 1. In compass, in circuit, ‘all round.’ Obs.
(Unless compass is a sb. and the construction as in ‘ten miles’ distance.’)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2275 (Cott.). Þis tour was … ten mile compas al aboute.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1355/2. With teeth of three quarters of a yard Compas.
† 2. In a circle, round. Obs.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 629. All sate at þe mete compas aboute.
† 3. In a circular arc or curve, curvedly. Obs.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 133. In drawyng, it [the bow] must come rounde compasse.
1559. Morwyng, Evonym., 245. The tyles must be cut and hewed compas.
1573. Cooper, Thesaurus, Classis lunata … a ship bending compasse like a Moone.
1606. B. Jonson, Masque Hymen, Note, Wks. (Rtldg.), 558. They [mantles] were fastened on the right shoulder, and fell compass down the back in gracious folds.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 222. Some again cut it [horse’s mane] to stand compass like a bow.
1655. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 88. The Architraves were … wrought compass, exactly, according to the Circumference of their respective Circle.
† b. Archery. To shoot compass: to shoot at an elevation, so as to allow for the curve of the projectile. Obs. Cf. A. 6 b.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 101. Ye take so great heade, to kepe youre standynge, to shoote compasse. Ibid., II. 107.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xi. § 24. They shot their Arrowes Compasse, with purpose to kill or gall such Scots as came to the execution.
fig. 1630. Shirley, Grateful Serv., V. i. Shoot not so much compass, be brief, and answer me.
† 4. Through a complete cycle or round; ‘all round the clock’ or ‘compass.’ Obs. (Cf. CIRCLE 17 c.)
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 323. Perceiued at ye last his olde Hat againe to come into the new fashion, wherewith … he sayde, I haue now lyued compasse, for Adams olde apron must make Eue a new kirtle.
D. Comb., as (sense 4) compass-joint; (sense 12) compass-bowl, -box, -card, -face, -needle, -point; compass-bar (see quot.); compass-bearings, bearings taken by the compass; compass-brick (see quot.); compass-callipers = calliper compasses (see CALLIPER); † compass-dial, a portable sun-dial adjustable by an attached compass-needle; compass-flower, -plant, a N. American composite (Silphium laciniatum) with large much-divided leaves, of which the lower ‘are said to present their faces uniformly north and south’ (Asa Gray); also other plants whose leaves are supposed to show a like tendency, e.g., the Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca scariola); compass-headed a., having a semicircular head; † compass-heart (see quot.: apparently a literal rendering of the Greek περικάρδιον); compass-plane (-smoothing-plane), a smoothing-plane having a convex sole and iron, used for planing concave surfaces; compass-roof (see quots.); compass-saw, a saw with a narrow blade for cutting out curves of moderate size; compass-signal, a signal denoting a point of the compass; compass-stock, a curved stock; compass-timber, curved timber, esp. as used for ship-building; compass-window, a semicircular bay-window (cf. COMPASSED 3 b). Also † compass-wise adv.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Compass-bar, a fixed iron ring in the silver-from-lead-extracting furnace.
1823. W. Scoresby, Jrnl. N. Whale Fishery, 322. The mast-head … was the only part of the ship where *compass-bearings could be relied on.
1862. Ansted, Channel Isl., II. x. (ed. 2), 254. The compass-bearing of the principal veins.
1797. Nicholson, Jrnl. Nat. Philos., I. 426. The needle is usually supported on a steel point which occupies the axis of … the *compass box.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purch., 38. *Compass-bricks … are of a Circular Form, their use is for Steening of Wells.
1706. Phillips, *Compass-Callipers, an Instrument us’d by Gunners, which resembles two Semi-circles.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Compass-card … is usually attached to the needle.
1875. Chamb. Jrnl., 79/2. It [the dromoscope] resembles a ship’s clock, with a compass-card division on each side.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VIII. (1682), 360. Holding our Course North-East, my *Compass-Dyal being our guide.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Compass-dials are small dials, fitted in boxes, for the pocket; to show the hour of the day by direction of the needle.
1847. Longf., Ev., II. iv. Look at this delicate plant … its leaves all point to the north, as true as the magnet, It is the *compass flower.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, *Compass-headed, in ancient architecture, circular.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 221. The heart hath for his next dwelling house a membrane or skinne called … Pericardion, which signifieth … a *compasse-heart.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Compass-joint, a form of joint usual in compasses, in which one leg has a circular disk or two, clamped between other disks belonging to the fellow leg.
1797. Nicholson, Jrnl. Nat. Philos., I. 427. A *compass-needle supported on a simple point.
1866. Herschel, Fam. Lect. Sc., The Sun, 79. The causes of the Compass needle pointing to the North.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, s.v., The use of the *compass-plane is to form a concave cylindrical surface.
1848. Gray, Man. Bot., 219. *Compass-plant.
1870. Gard. Chron., Sept., 1213. The compass plant, a wild sunflower of the western prairies.
1882. Alvard, in Amer. Naturalist, XVI. 626. Compass Plant … The property is best exhibited in the radical leaf, which presents its faces to the rising and setting sun.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 34. The *compass poynt directinge to the haven.
1850. Weale, Dict. Terms, *Compass-roof, a roof in which the braces of the timbers are inclined so as to form a sort of arch.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., vi. 100. The *Compass-Saw should not have its Teeth Set as other Saws have.
1881. Mechanic, § 380. The compass-saw is also used for circular work.
1725. W. Halfpenny, Sound Building, 25. With a *Compass Smoothing-Plane … plane the Inside thereof.
1866. Froude, in Athenæum, 392/3. Harquebuss with a *compass-stock.
1686. Lond. Gaz., 2122/4. Any Woods convertible to Streight, *Compass or Knee Tymber or Plank, fit for the Service of His Majesties Navy.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 42. He encompassed those two courses with circular, or what is technically called compass timbers.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 102. Her Ladies … were a little distant from her in a faire *compasse Window.
c. 1700. C. Fiennes, Diary (1888), 19. Another large dineing roome with great Compass windows.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 59. Which … he made soo *compase wyse and caue or holowe in the middes, that, etc.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike, 45 b. The element goeth compasse wise because it is rounde.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farm, 684. The old Harts … hauing … their hornes set with pearles, and strait and large heads, rather open than turned compasse-wise.
