a. and sb. Also 6–8 -ary. [f. L. type *compulsōri-us, f. compulsor a compeller, agent-n. f. compellĕre: see -ORY.]
A. adj.
1. Depending on or produced by compulsion; compelled, forced, enforced, obligatory.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 482 b. Of compulsary single life.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law, i. 2. The not giving counsell was compulsary.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 187. This author argues against the compulsory method of relief.
1862. C. Stretton, Chequered Life, II. 5. It was compulsory on me to pass his house.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. 549. The bondage of compulsory worship.
b. Of an agent: Acting under compulsion; compelled; involuntary.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), IV. xxxii. Being a compulsory spectator and auditor of a brawling … match.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 255. The spontaneous evidence of a compulsory principal.
2. Involving or exercising compulsion; compelling, coercive.
† Compulsory letters (med.L. litteræ compulsatoriæ, F. lettres de compulsoire): letters issued to compel the production of documents or appearance of witnesses.
1631. Star Chamb. Cases (Camden Soc.), 8. To send for him … in a compulsory way when he was neere, and might be sent for in a friendly, was somewhat hard.
1685. Conset, Pract. Spirit. Courts, 109. The manner of bringing in Letters Compulsaries, against the Witnesses.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xiv. (1700), 135. He was as much bound, as if there had been an outward compulsory Law lying upon him.
1789. Constit. U.S., Amendm. 6. The right … to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor.
1839. W. Irving, Wolfert’s R. (1855), 131. These compulsory measures for a short time gave a false credit to the bank.
B. sb. A compulsory agency or means; a legal mandate compelling obedience.
1516. Fabyan, VII. ccxxxvii. 275. Whan he sawe yt he myght not reconsyle them by fayre meanys, he than vsed compulsares.
1591. Lambarde, Arch. (1635), 158. Witnesses; against whom the manner was to award compulsaries for their appearance.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. v. A gammon of bacon: it is the compulsory of drinkers.
1694. Falle, Jersey, v. 154. They shall be convened into Court by Mandate, paying double Charges for the Compulsory.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 140. There was a compulsary laid upon men, for the relief of the poor … to wit, the statute of the 43 Eliz. c. 2, being the first compulsary law … of that kind.
