n.
Pronunciation: ' k ə m-p ə s also ' käm-
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French cumpasser to measure, from Vulgar Latin *compassare to pace off, from Latin com- + passus pace
Date: 14th century
1 : to devise or contrive often with craft or skill : PLOT <persons ⋯ who have compass ed my destruction ― Charles Dickens>
2 : ENCOMPASS
3 a : BRING ABOUT , ACHIEVE b : to get into one's possession or power : OBTAIN
4 : COMPREHEND
– com · pass · able \ -p ə -s ə -b ə l \ adjective