Com″pass (kŭm″pas), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Compassed (–past); p. pr. & vb. n.Compassing.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.] 1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.
Ye shall compass the city seven times.
Josh. vi. 4.
We the globe can compass soon.
Shak.
2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; — used with about, round, around, and round about.
With terrors and with clamors compassed round.
Milton.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad father compass thee about.
Shak.
Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round.
Luke xix. 43.
3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.
If I can check my erring love, I will:
If not, to compass her I'll use my skill.
Shak.
How can you hope to compass your designs?
Denham.
4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. Shak.
5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
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.