Verb

(transitive, archaic, literally) To drive together, round up (rfex)

To overpower; to subdue.

* 1917 , , King Coal , ch. 16,

She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man.

To force, constrain or coerce.

Logic compels''' the wise, while fools feel '''compelled by emotions.

* 1600 , , Julius Caesar , act 5, sc. 1,

Against my will, / As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set / Upon one battle all our liberties.

* Hallam

Wolsey compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once.

To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.

* Shakespeare

Commissions, which compel from each / The sixth part of his substance.

* 1912 , , Sky Island , ch. 14,

The Queen has nothing but the power to execute the laws, to adjust grievances and to compel order.

(obsolete) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

* Dryden

Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled .

* Tennyson

I compel all creatures to my will.

(obsolete) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

* Dryden

in one troop compelled

(obsolete) To call forth; to summon.

* Spenser

She had this knight from far compelled .

(Chapman)

Verb

(oblig)

To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

I am obliged to report to the police station every week.

{{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3 , Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.}}

To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).

He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.

*

To be indebted to someone.

I am obliged to you for your recent help.

To do a service or favour.

The singer obliged with another song.