from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Compass \Com"pass\ (k[u^]m"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.
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They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. --2
Kings iii. 9.
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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.
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2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within
the compass of an encircling wall.
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3. An inclosed space; an area; extent.
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Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass.
--Addison.
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4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of
his eye; the compass of imagination.
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The compass of his argument. --Wordsworth.
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5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits;
-- used with within.
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In two hundred years before (I speak within
compass), no such commission had been executed.
--Sir J.
Davies.
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6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity
of a voice or instrument.
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You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of
my compass. --Shak.
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7. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's
surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning
freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and
southerly direction.
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He that first discovered the use of the compass did
more for the supplying and increase of useful
commodities than those who built workhouses.
--Locke.
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8. A pair of compasses. [R.] See {Compasses.}
To fix one foot of their compass wherever they
please. --Swift.
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9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.]
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The tryne compas [the threefold world containing
earth, sea, and heaven. --Skeat.] --Chaucer.
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{Azimuth compass}. See under {Azimuth}.
{Beam compass}. See under {Beam}.
{Compass card}, the circular card attached to the needles of
a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two
points or rhumbs.
{Compass dial}, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial
to tell the hour of the day.
{Compass plane} (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of
its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave
faces of curved woodwork.
{Compass plant}, {Compass flower} (Bot.), a plant of the
American prairies ({Silphium laciniatum}), not unlike a
small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are
vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present
their edges north and south.
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Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the
magnet:
This is the compass flower. --Longefellow.
{Compass saw}, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a
curve; -- called also {fret saw} and {keyhole saw}.
{Compass timber} (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber.
{Compass window} (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel
window.
{Mariner's compass}, a kind of compass used in navigation. It
has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a
card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with
reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's
head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called
also rhumbs, and the glass-covered box or bowl containing
it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order
to preserve its horizontal position.
{Surveyor's compass}, an instrument used in surveying for
measuring horizontal angles. See {Circumferentor}.
{Variation compass}, a compass of delicate construction, used
in observations on the variations of the needle.
{To fetch a compass}, to make a circuit.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fetch \Fetch\ (f[e^]ch; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fetched} 2;
p. pr. & vb. n.. {Fetching}.] [OE. fecchen, AS. feccan, perh.
the same word as fetian; or cf. facian to wish to get,
OFries. faka to prepare. [root]77. Cf. {Fet}, v. t.]
1. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing
from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go
and bring; to get.
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Time will run back and fetch the age of gold.
--Milton.
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He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a
little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as
she was going to fetch it he called to her, and
said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in
thine hand. --1 Kings
xvii. 11, 12.
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2. To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for.
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Our native horses were held in small esteem, and
fetched low prices. --Macaulay.
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3. To recall from a swoon; to revive; -- sometimes with to;
as, to fetch a man to.
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Fetching men again when they swoon. --Bacon.
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4. To reduce; to throw.
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The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to
the ground. --South.
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5. To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to
perform, with certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to
fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh.
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I'll fetch a turn about the garden. --Shak.
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He fetches his blow quick and sure. --South.
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6. To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive
at; to attain; to reach by sailing.
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Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched
The siren's isle. --Chapman.
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7. To cause to come; to bring to a particular state.
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They could n't fetch the butter in the churn. --W.
Barnes.
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{To fetch a compass} (Naut.), to make a circuit; to take a
circuitous route going to a place.
{To fetch a pump}, to make it draw water by pouring water
into the top and working the handle.
{To fetch headway} or {To fetch sternway} (Naut.), to move
ahead or astern.
{To fetch out}, to develop. "The skill of the polisher
fetches out the colors [of marble]" --Addison.
{To fetch up}.
(a) To overtake. [Obs.] "Says [the hare], I can fetch up
the tortoise when I please." --L'Estrange.
(b) To stop suddenly.
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