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(km"pas), 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. 4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination. The compass of his argument. Wordsworth. 5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within. In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. Sir J. Davies. 6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument. You would sound me from my Com"pass (km"pas), v. t.[imp. & p. p.Compassed (-past); 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 i スポンサード リンク
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