coerce

views updated May 23 2018

co·erce / kōˈərs/ • v. [tr.] persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats: they were coerced into silence. ∎  obtain (something) by such means: their confessions were allegedly coerced by torture.DERIVATIVES: co·er·ci·ble adj.co·er·cion / kōˈərzhən; -shən/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

coerce

views updated Jun 11 2018

coerce XVII. — L. coercēre shut up, restrain, f. CO- + arcēre restrain. ward off.
So coercion XVIII.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

coerce

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like