n.
Pronunciation: k ə m- ' p ə l-sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compulsion-, compulsio, from Latin compellere to compel
Date: 15th century
1 a : an act of compelling : the state of being compelled b : a force that compels
2 : an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing) also : the act itself