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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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Compass \Com"pass\ (k[u^]m"pas), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compassed}
(k[u^]m"past); p. pr. & vb. n. {Compassing}.] [F. compasser,
LL. compassare.]
1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.
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Ye shall compass the city seven times. --Josh. vi.
4.
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We the globe can compass soon. --Shak.
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2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to
environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round,
around, and round about.
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With terrors and with clamors compassed round.
--Milton.
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Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about. --Shak.
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Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and
compass thee round. --Luke xix.
43.
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3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power;
to obtain; to accomplish.
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If I can check my erring love, I will:
If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. --Shak.
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How can you hope to compass your designs? --Denham.
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4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in
carpentry and shipbuilding.] --Shak.
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5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
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Compassing and imagining the death of the king are
synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose
or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common
speech, the carrying such design to effect.
--Blackstone.
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