coerce

Coerce — Co*erce , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coerced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Coercing}.] [L. co[ e]rcere; co + arcere to shut up, to press together. See {Ark}.] 1. To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to repress; to curb. Burke. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

coerce — co·erce /kō ərs/ vt co·erced, co·erc·ing: to subject (a person) to coercion compare importune, solicit Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

coerce — mid 15c., cohercen, from M.Fr. cohercer, from L. coercere to control, restrain, shut up together, from com together (see CO (Cf. co )) + arcere to enclose, confine, contain, ward off, from PIE *ark to hold, contain, guard (see ARCANE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

coerce — compel, *force, constrain, oblige Analogous words: *intimidate, bulldoze, bully, browbeat, cow: *threaten, menace: drive, impel (see MOVE): terrorize (see FRIGHTEN) Contrasted words: *induce, persuade, prevail, get: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

coerce — [v] compel, press beset, browbeat, bulldoze*, bully, concuss, constrain, cow, dragoon, drive, force, high pressure*, hinder, impel, intimidate, lean on, make, make an offer they can’t refuse*, menace, oblige, pressurize, push, put the squeeze on* …   New thesaurus

coerce — ► VERB ▪ persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats. DERIVATIVES coercion noun coercive adjective. ORIGIN Latin coercere restrain …   English terms dictionary

coerce — [kō ʉrs′] vt. coerced, coercing [ME cohercen < OFr cohercier < L coercere, to surround, restrain < co , together + arcere, to confine: see EXERCISE] 1. to restrain or constrain by force, esp. by legal authority; curb 2. to force or… …   English World dictionary

coerce — v. 1) (D; tr.) to coerce into (to coerce smb. into doing smt.) 2) (H) (rare) he was coerced to sign * * * [kəʊ ɜːs] (H) (rare) he was coerced to sign (D; tr.) to coerce into (to coerce smb. into doing smt.) …   Combinatory dictionary

coerce — transitive verb (coerced; coercing) Etymology: Middle English cohercen, from Anglo French *cohercer Latin coercēre, from co + arcēre to shut up, enclose more at ark Date: 15th century 1. to restrain or dominate by force …   New Collegiate Dictionary

coerce — [[t]koʊɜ͟ː(r)s[/t]] coerces, coercing, coerced VERB If you coerce someone into doing something, you make them do it, although they do not want to. [FORMAL] [V n into ing/n] Potter had argued that the government coerced him into pleading guilty …   English dictionary

coerce — UK [kəʊˈɜː(r)s] / US [koʊˈɜrs] verb [transitive] Word forms coerce : present tense I/you/we/they coerce he/she/it coerces present participle coercing past tense coerced past participle coerced to make someone do something by using force or… …   English dictionary