a. (sb.) [ad. L. type *compulsīv-us, f. ppl. stem of compellĕre to COMPEL: see -IVE. Cf. mod.F. compulsif, -ive.]

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  1.  Having the property of compelling; exercising compulsion; coercive; = COMPULSORY a. 2.

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1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 86. When the compulsiue Ardure giues the charge.

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1637.  R. Humfrey, trans. St. Ambrose, Pref. Rather rhetoricall and perswasive, then logicall and compulsive.

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1646.  S. Bolton, Arraignm. Err., 345. To make a man to put off his judgement by meer compulsive wayes.

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1770.  Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), II. 827/2. The violent and compulsive measures.

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1873.  W. Balfour, Establ. Princ., iv. 59. The power of the magistrate is compulsive.

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  † b.  In physical sense: Having the quality of driving or forcing onward. Obs. rare–1.

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1604.  Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 454. The Ponticke Sea, Whose Icie Current, and compulsiue course, Neu’r keepes retyring ebbe.

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1655.  Culpepper, etc., Riverius, IX. vii. 265. The natural Motion of the Stomach is Compulsive towards the Guts.

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  † 2.  Caused by compulsion; compelled, forced, enforced; = COMPULSORY a. 1. Obs.

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1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xxi. § 105. D. Fredericke his compulsiue brother in Law.

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1659.  Milton, Hirelings, 33. Freed … from all compulsive tributes and taxes.

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1771.  Junius Lett., lix. 307. I acknowledge an involuntary, compulsive assent to one very unpopular opinion.

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1836.  M. J. Chapman, Prometh. Bound, in Blackw. Mag., XL. 723. I thus am yoked to this compulsive doom.

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  B.  as sb. Something that compels or tends to compel. (Cf. dissuasive, etc.) Obs. rare–1.

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1638.  Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. ii. § 154. 113. Judge … whether these Motives or inducements to your Church be not … opposed with Compulsives, and enforcements from it.

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