Compass v.¹

Forms: see sb.¹ Pa. t. and pple. 4– compassed; also 4–7 compast. [a. F. compasse-r (12th c. in Littré), to measure, design, contrive, regulate, adjust; cf. Pr., Sp. compasar ‘to measure with a compass, to compass about’ (Minsheu), It. compassare to measure with compasses, to weigh in the mind, ‘to compasse about’ (Florio):—L. type *compassāre. See the sb.]

  I.  To plan, contrive, devise.

  † 1.  trans. To plan, design, contrive, devise (a work of art). Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 8807. In Aufrik were þey [stones of Stonehengel compassed & wrought.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 3219. Þe palais … þat compast was of Cusys [Cyrus]. Ibid., 3629. Ane instrument all of iren … Was compast on carte-wise.

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. I can not paynt nor compasse No gay processe.

  † b.  absol.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 235. He tauȝte … some to compas craftily & coloures to make. Ibid., XVII. 170. The fyngres fourmen a ful hande to purtreye or peynten Keruynge and compassynge as crafte of þe fyngres.

  2.  To contrive, devise, machinate (a purpose). Usually in a bad sense: see quots. 1292, 1491.

[1292.  Britton, I. ix. [viii.] § 2. Graunt tresoun est a compasser nostre mort.

1351.  Act 25 Edw. III., Stat. v. c. 2. Q^ant homme fait compasser ou ymaginer la mort nostre Seign^r le Roi.]

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 109. To suc[h] ende yt was y-come as he hadde y-compaced in ys þoȝt.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, 113. He compasyth venjaunce to hym þat aȝen clenketh.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 98. He þouht to compas ille, þe same tille him did he.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1539, Hipsiphile & Medea. Al this was compassed on the nyghte Betwix him Jason, and this Ercules.

1491.  Act 1 Hen. VII., c. 23. Pream. Richard White … traitrously ymagened and compassed the dethe … of our seid Souvereigne Lord.

1659.  W. Brough, Sacr. Princ., 251. To contrive mischiefs, and to compasse designes of vanity.

1681.  Trial S. Colledge, 119. To compasse or imagine the imprisonment of the King.

1860.  Motley, Netherl. (1868), II. xv. 249. England, whose desolation is thus sought and compassed.

1888.  W. D. Hamilton, Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1644, Pref. 22. The Parliament … compassing the destruction of the Throne.

  b.  with infin. phrase or subord. clause.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1455. For to compas & kest to haf hem clene wroȝt.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1410, Hipsiphile & Medea. Compassede he How Jason myghte best destroyed be.

1513.  More, Rich. III., Wks. 42/1. His uncle hadde coumpassed to rule the kynge.

1848.  Act 11 Vict. (Better Security of Crown). If any person … shall compass … to deprive or depose our Most Gracious Lady the Queen.

  † c.  absol. or intr. Obs.

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. ii. Double as Tygre slyghtly to compace.

14[?].  Epiph., in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 108. Thowgh thow with wordis honny swete Maliciously upon her deth compasse They schall askape.

  † 3.  To consider, ponder, meditate, ‘go through.’

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10115. He … ay compast þe cases in his clene hert.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. iii. 96. Eneas, That with hymself can mony thing cumpas.

1534.  Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, I. (1540), 26. Whan thou hast compaced [lustraveris] all by reason and by thy mynde.

  † b.  intr., or with obj. clause. Obs.

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1196. Þe lede … Compast in his concience to quat þat cace myȝt Mene.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 6934. Fulle fast, iwys, compassen we By what ladder he is clomben.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VII. Prol. 151. Wythin my mynd compassing thocht I so.

  II.  † 4. To describe with compasses (a circle).

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 18. Up-on this forseide plate ben compassed certein cerclis þat hihten Almicanteras.

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 108. Signes twelve, Which have her cerclis by hem selve Compassed in the zodiaque.

  III.  To go or come round, put round, encompass. literally.

  In senses 5–8 often extended by round, about; in senses 5–7 also with in.

  5.  trans. To pass or move round; to traverse in a circular or circuitous course, make the circuit of.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xxiii. 15. Woo to you scribis and Pharisees … that cumpasen [1388 goon aboute] the se and the lond, that ȝe maken o proselyte. Ibid. (1388), Josh. vi. 3. Alle ȝe fiȝteris, cumpasse [1382 go abou] the citee.

a. 1498.  Warkw., Chron., an. 1472. It [the comet] compassed rounde abowte alle the erthe.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 34/45. To compasse, circuire.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., viii. 25. The Bisquayn Ship … wherein Magellan compassed the World.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. vi. 132. Having now compast in the whole Continent of South America.

1860.  Kingsley, Misc., I. 123. A generation which will compass land and sea to make one proselyte.

  b.  absol. or intr. To go round, make a circuit.

1382.  Wyclif, Luke ix. 6. Sothli thei gon out, cumpassiden bi castels, euangelisinge and heeling euerewhere.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Acts xxviii. 13. Thence compassing by the shore, we came to Rhegium.

1598.  W. Phillips, Linschoten, in Arb., Garner, III. 25. The San Felipe … was compelled to compasse about, and came to Cochin.

1605.  Verstegan, Dec. Intell., vi. (1628), 156. He will compasse into Germany, Denmarke, Norway and Sweden.

  † c.  causative. (?) To send round. Obs.

c. 1485.  Digby Mist. (1882), III. 1467. I com nott to þe [King of Marsile] for no decepcyon, But þat good lord crist hether me compassyd.

  d.  with cognate obj. To compass (a course, circuit, voyage, period, etc.).

1583.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 107. Why so may not Troian theire course to good Italye coompasse?

1629.  J. Cole, Of Death, 35. When his life hath compassed his course.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Ireland, iii. 48. Who had compassed a circuit of observation in a different direction.

  6.  To come round, close round, as a multitude; to form a circle about, surround, with friendly or hostile intent; to hem in; sometimes spec. ‘to beleaguer, besiege, block’ (J.). Cf. ENCOMPASS.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10292. The Mirmydons … compast the knight, closit hym within.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. xxvi[i]. 6. Myne enemies … compassed me rounde aboute.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. ii. 26. Compassing in all the yong children.

1577.  Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 75. Such as compassed the tribunall seate.

1604.  James I., Counterbl. (Arb.), 107. Although in his siege … he do belaie and compasse it round about.

1611.  Heywood, Golden Age, V. Wks. (1874), III. 75. Enter Ganimed compast in with soldiers.

1703.  Rowe, Fair Penit., V. i. Found him compass’d by Lothario’s Faction.

1817.  Byron, Manfred, I. i. Ye Spirits of the unbounded Universe … who do compass earth about.

1847.  Tennyson, Princ., II. 421. [She] rapt in glorious dreams … Sat compass’d with professors.

  fig.  1388.  Wyclif, Ps. xvii[i]. 5. The sorewis of deth cumpassiden me.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., V. i. 180. All the blessings Of a glad father, compass thee about.

1814.  Southey, Carmina Aulica, I. 3, Poems III. 232. At home worse dangers compass’d thee.

  7.  To encircle, environ, lie round and enclose, as the sea, a girdle, etc. Also with round, about, in.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 22705. Þe see þat compasseþ alle londe.

1388.  Wyclif, Jer. lii. 21. A roop of twelue cubitis cumpasside it.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXI. v. The firmament so compassing the land.

1576.  Fleming, Panop. Epist., 190. Your carkasse is compassed in a corruptible skin.

1664.  Dryden, Rival Ladies, III. i. I am compass’d round With Mirth.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. Introd. 1. Epigastrium, which compasses the stomach.

1735.  Pope, Donne Sat., ii. 84. Like the Sea they compass all the land.

1818.  Mrs. Shelley, Frankenst., iv. 21. We were compassed round by a very thick fog.

1827.  Hare, Guesses (1859), 231. A lake wants mountains to compass and hold it in.

  8.  To encircle, or surround with something.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. clxii. (1495), 709. A meete borde is … sette vpon fete, and compassed wyth a lyste abowte.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xvi. 51. They … compassed it al aboute with a gyrdle.

1601.  F. Godwin, Bps. of Eng., 59. He compassed the Tower of London with a strong wall.

1685.  Stillingfl., Orig. Brit., i. 29. The custome of compassing Churches with Church-yards was not so ancient.

1766.  Porny, Heraldry, vi. § 1 (1777), 213–4. It appears, from very good authority, that Boniface VIII. who was elected into the See of Rome Anno 1295, first compassed his Cap with a Coronet.

1859.  Tennyson, Geraint & Enid, 48. He compass’d her with sweet observances And worship.

  † b.  To embrace, encircle with the arms. Obs.

c. 1590.  (Qo. 1616) Marlowe, Faust., Wks. (Rtldg.) 124/1. In mine arms I would have compass’d him.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 276. A Lady, wiser, fairer, truer, Then euer Greeke did compasse in his armes.

  IV.  fig. To get within one’s compass, grasp, or reach; to ‘get round.’

  † 9.  To catch, seize, lay hold of. Obs.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 241. My pleasaunt pace Is light as flee, thus none that be can me compace.

1526.  Tindale, 1 Cor. iii. 19. It is written: He compaseth [1611 taketh] the wyse in their craftynes.

  10.  To grasp with the mind, comprehend fully.

1576.  Baker, Jewell of Health, 176 a. This maner who that can understand and compasse.

1686.  South, Serm. (1823), II. 132. The knowledge of what is good and what is evil … is a thing too large to be compassed, and too hard to be mastered, without brains and study, parts and contemplation.

1847.  Longf., Ev., II. ii. Strange forebodings of ill … that cannot be compassed.

  11.  To attain to or achieve (an end or object aimed at); to accomplish.

1549.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Ordering of Priests. Ye cannot by any other meanes compasse the doyng of so weightie a woork.

1576.  Fleming, Panop. Epist., 85. You tooke upon you a greater charge … then you are able to compasse and perfourme.

1581.  Rich, Farewell (1846), 162. I can not compasse to take this woman.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. ii. 45. That were hard to compasse, Because she will admit no kinde of suite.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxii. 77. The better to compass his intent.

1709.  Pope, Ess. Crit., 256. Since none can compass more than they intend.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 173. A painter may execute a head, though he cannot compass a whole figure.

1840.  Macaulay, Ess. Clive. Men who would unscrupulously employ corruption … to compass their ends.

1871.  Rossetti, Poems, Dante at Verona, xxvi. The task is long, The time wears short to compass it.

  b.  To get at, attain, obtain, win (an object).

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 214. If not, to compasse her Ile vse my skill. Ibid. (1608), Per., I. ii. 24. To compasse such a bondlesse happinesse.

1631.  Heywood, 1st Pt. Maid of West, III. Wks. 1874, II. 300. You have trickes to compasse these gay cloaths.

a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 502. He compassed the crown by cruelty.

1696.  Evelyn, Diary (1827), IV. 358. He compassed a vast estate.

1865.  Trollope, Belton Est., xxxi. 375. She was a free woman,—to be compassed if only a man might compass her.

1871.  B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. i. 24. How hard it is to compass the assistance Whereby one rises to the source.

  † 12.  To ‘get round,’ ‘come round,’ circumvent.

1563.  Homilies, II. Rogat. Week, IV. (1859), 496. Let no man subtilly compass or defraud his neighbour.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., Hen. VI., II. 538. The newe French Kyng … studiyng howe to compasse the Parisians, eyther with money, or with promise. Ibid., 681. He imagined how to compasse Thomas Lord Stanley … that he might be one of the confederacie.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 133. Shee goes about to perform the condition her self, hoping thereby to compasse Christ.

  † b.  To adulterate or sophisticate (wine, etc.).

1594.  Plat, Jewell-ho., I. § 73. 64. Wine … trickt, or compassed, or at the least mingled with other wine, hath euer since beene retailed … for wine.

1703.  [see COMPASSING vbl. sb. 4].

  † 13.  To get over, surmount. Obs.

1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer (1577), E ij b. Ignoraunce … suche, that he cannot compasse that difficultie.

  V.  [from the sb. or adj.] To make or be ‘compass’ or rounded.

  14.  trans. To bend into a circle or curve; to curve, incurve. Cf. COMPASSED 3.

1542.  Lam. Treat., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 238. When they [mountains] be croked, or compassed hauenlyke they shewe much larger.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. v. 112. To be compass’d like a good Bilbo in the circumference of a Pecke, hilt to point, heele to head.

1649.  Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1653), 210. Their ploughs are very small and light, and little compassed.

1689.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2476/4. A dark brown Gelding … with a white slip down his Head to his Nose compass’d to the farther Eye.

  15.  intr. To curve, bend round, be curved. (Now only of timber.) Cf. COMPASSING ppl. a. b.

1588.  R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 194. Sixe tables, placed in order, compassing rounde like a circle.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 94. The horns … more crooked and bending, compassing behinde, as a Rams do.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 2. At the ends they begin to compasse.

c. 1850.  Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 112. Croaky, a term applied to plank when it curves or compasses much.