Coerced

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              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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