English
compulsative
Compulsative comes from Latin compellō ‘to compel’, from pellō ‘drive’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- ‘to approach’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pelh₂-‘to approach’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpellō‘drive’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcompellōas compellere‘to compel’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602compulsative
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pelh₂-‘to approach’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpellō‘drive’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcompellōas compellere‘to compel’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1599–1602compulsative
Earliest quotation: c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: “But to recouer of vs by ſtrong hand /…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- ‘to approach’
through Latin pellō ‘drive’
appeal, repeal, pulse, expel, appellate, repel, propel, dispel, propulsion, expulsion, pelt, compel, rappel, impel, 17 more
Today it means
adj Compulsatory; employing force or constraint.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- / compulsative