4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Compass  \Com"pass\,  n.  [F.  compas,  fr  LL  compassus  circle, 
  prop.,  a  stepping  together;  com-  +  passus  pace,  step.  See 
  {Pace},  {Pass}.] 
  1.  A  passing  round;  circuit;  circuitous  course. 
 
  They  fetched  a  compass  of  seven  day's  journey.  --2 
  Kings  iii.  9. 
 
  This  day  I  breathed  first  time  is  come  round,  And 
  where  I  did  begin,  there  shall  I  end  My  life  is  run 
  his  compass.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  An  inclosing  limit;  boundary;  circumference;  as  within 
  the  compass  of  an  encircling  wall. 
 
  3.  An  inclosed  space;  an  area;  extent. 
 
  Their  wisdom  .  .  .  lies  in  a  very  narrow  compass. 
  --Addison. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Compass  \Com"pass\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Compassed};  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  [Obs.  except  in 
  carpentry  and  shipbuilding.]  --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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  compass 
  n  1:  an  indicator  points  to  the  north 
  2:  an  area  in  which  something  acts  or  operates  or  has  power  or 
  control:  "the  range  of  a  supersonic  jet";  "the  ambit  of 
  municipal  legislation";  "within  the  compass  of  this 
  article";  within  the  scope  of  an  investigation";  "outside 
  the  reach  of  the  law";  "in  the  political  orbit  of  a  world 
  power"  [syn:  {scope},  {range},  {reach},  {orbit},  {ambit}] 
  3:  the  limit  of  capability;  "within  the  compass  of  education" 
  [syn:  {range},  {reach},  {grasp}] 
  4:  used  for  drawing  circles 
  v  1:  bring  about  accomplish;  "This  writer  attempts  more  than  his 
  talents  can  compass" 
  2:  travel  around  either  by  plane  or  ship:  "We  compassed  the 
  earth"  [syn:  {circumnavigate}] 
  3:  get  the  meaning  of  something  "Do  you  comprehend  the  meaning 
  of  this  letter?"  [syn:  {get  the  picture},  {comprehend},  {savvy}, 
  {dig},  {grasp},  {apprehend}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  COMPASS 
 
  COMPrehensive  ASSembler. 
 
  The  {assembly  language}  on  {CDC}  computers. 
 
  (1995-01-19) 
 
 

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