compass
/ˈkʌm.pəs/ verb C2- To surround; to encircle; to environ; to stretch round.
- To go about or round entirely; to traverse.
- To accomplish; to reach; to achieve; to obtain.
- To plot; to scheme (against someone).
He/she/it compasses · Past compassed · Past participle compassed · -ing form compassing
Verb forms
- Base form
- compass
- He/she/it
- compasses
- Past
- compassed
- Past participle
- compassed
- -ing form
- compassing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
What strange means has he used to compass this blessed end?”
“I hope,” said she, as they were walking together in the shrubbery the next day, “you will give your mother-in-law a few hints, when this desirable event takes place, as to the advantage of holding her tongue; and if you can compass it, to cure the younger girls of running after the officers.
Only I warn you, that when I reside in a country, I conform to all its code, and I have no wish to put myself within the compass of the French laws for your sake.”
“I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you use an arc-and-compass breastpin.”
Other matches
Learn compass in real texts
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