Compulsive
(Com*pul"sive) a. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives.
Sharp.
Compulsively
(Com*pul"sive*ly), adv. By compulsion; by force.
Compulsorily
(Com*pul"so*ri*ly) adv. In a compulsory manner; by force or constraint.
Compulsory
(Com*pul"so*ry) a. [LL. compulsorius.]
1. Having the power of compulsion; constraining.
2. Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to compulsion.
This contribution threatening to fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory.
Burke.
Compunct
(Com*punct") a. [LL. compunctus, p. p.] Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken.
[Obs.]
Compunction
(Com*punc"tion) n. [OF. compunction, F. componction, L. compunctio, fr. compungere,
compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.]
1. A pricking; stimulation. [Obs.]
That acid and piercing spirit which, with such activity and compunction, invadeth the brains and nostrils.
Sir
T. Browne.
2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the
sting of conscience.
He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction.
Clarendon.
Syn. — Compunction, Remorse, Contrition. Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or
consciousness of having offended God or brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the
pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true contrition, which
denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of compunction
for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition in view of our past lives. See Regret.
Compunctionless
(Com*punc"tion*less), a. Without compunction.
Compunctious
(Com*punc"tious) a. Of the nature of compunction; caused by conscience; attended with,
or causing, compunction.
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose.
Shak.
Compunctiously
(Com*punc"tious*ly), adv. With compunction.
Compunctive
(Com*punc"tive) a. Sensitive in respect of wrongdoing; conscientious. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Compurgation
(Com`pur*ga"tion) n. [L. compurgatio, fr. compurgare to purify wholly; com- + purgare
to make pure. See Purge, v. t.]
1. (Law) The act or practice of justifying or confirming a man's veracity by the oath of others; — called
also wager of law. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.