compulsion

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel. === Pronunciation === enPR: kəm-pŭl'shən, IPA(key): /kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/ === Noun === compulsion (countable and uncountable, plural compulsions) An irrational need or irresistible urge to perform some action, often despite negative consequences. The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act. The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== compulsive compulsory ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “compulsion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “compulsion”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “compulsion”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022. == French == === Etymology === From Latin compulsiōnem. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /kɔ̃.pyl.sjɔ̃/ === Noun === compulsion f (plural compulsions) compulsion ==== Related terms ==== compulsif compulsionnel === Further reading === “compulsion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012