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compass |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Compass \Com"pass\, n. [F. compas, fr LL compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See {Pace}, {Pass}.] 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. --2 Kings iii. 9. This day I breathed first time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end My life is run his compass. --Shak. 2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as within the compass of an encircling wall. 3. An inclosed space; an area; extent. Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. --Addison. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Compass \Com"pass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compassed}; p. pr & vb n. {Compassing}.] [F. compasser, LL compassare.] 1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi 4. We the globe can compass soon. --Shak. 2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about round, around and round about With terrors and with clamors compassed round. --Milton. Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about --Shak. Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round. --Luke xix. 43. 3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish. If I can check my erring love, I will: If not to compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak. How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham. 4. To curve; to bend into a circular form [Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak. 5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot. Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will and not as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. --Blackstone. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: compass n 1: an indicator points to the north 2: an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" [syn: {scope}, {range}, {reach}, {orbit}, {ambit}] 3: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" [syn: {range}, {reach}, {grasp}] 4: used for drawing circles v 1: bring about accomplish; "This writer attempts more than his talents can compass" 2: travel around either by plane or ship: "We compassed the earth" [syn: {circumnavigate}] 3: get the meaning of something "Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?" [syn: {get the picture}, {comprehend}, {savvy}, {dig}, {grasp}, {apprehend}] From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: COMPASS COMPrehensive ASSembler. The {assembly language} on {CDC} computers. (1995-01-19)
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