from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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Punishments are manifold, that they may coerce this
profligate sort. --Ayliffe.
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2. To compel or constrain to any action; as, to coerce a man
to vote for a certain candidate.
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3. To compel or enforce; as, to coerce obedience.
Syn: To {Coerce}, {Compel}.
Usage: To compel denotes to urge on by force which cannot be
resisted. The term aplies equally to physical and
moral force; as, compelled by hunger; compelled
adverse circumstances; compelled by parental
affection. Coerce had at first only the negative sense
of checking or restraining by force; as, to coerce a
bad man by punishments or a prisoner with fetters. It
has now gained a positive sense., viz., that of
driving a person into the performance of some act
which is required of him by another; as, to coerce a
man to sign a contract; to coerce obedience. In this
sense (which is now the prevailing one), coerce
differs but little from compel, and yet there is a
distinction between them. Coercion is usually
acomplished by indirect means, as threats and
intimidation, physical force being more rarely
employed in coercing.
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