World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesCompulsion
/kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, especially against one's conscious wishes.
"He felt a sudden compulsion to open the letter."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'compulsio', from the verb 'compellere' meaning 'to drive together' or 'force' (com- 'together' + pellere 'to drive'). It entered Middle English in the 15th century via Old French, initially denoting physical force or constraint before evolving to describe psychological urges and irresistible inner drives.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Compulsion" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
compulsion
Transliteration: compulsion
"Il a une compulsion irrésistible pour le chocolat."
Zwang
Transliteration: Zwang
"Er spürte einen inneren Zwang zu handeln."
compulsione
Transliteration: compulsione
"Ha ceduto alla compulsione di comprare."
compulsión
Transliteration: compulsión
"Sintió una fuerte compulsión de salir corriendo."
compulsão
Transliteration: compulsão
"Ela luta contra a compulsão por doces."
विवशता
Transliteration: vivashta
"उसमें ऐसा करने की एक अजीब विवशता थी।"
冲动
Transliteration: chōngdòng
"他有一种难以抗拒的冲动。"
충동
Transliteration: chungdong
"그는 참을 수 없는 충동을 느꼈다."
衝動
Transliteration: shōdō
"彼にはそれをせずにはいられない衝動があった。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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A person who promotes or publicizes a particular organization, doctrine, or biased point of view, often using misleading or manipulative information.
A scarecrow or a grotesque figure set up in a field.
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