Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A device used to determine geographic direction, usually consisting of a magnetic needle or needles horizontally mounted or suspended and free to pivot until aligned with the earth's magnetic field.
- noun Another device, such as a radio compass or a gyrocompass, used for determining geographic direction.
- noun A V-shaped device for describing circles or circular arcs and for taking measurements, consisting of a pair of rigid, end-hinged legs, one of which is equipped with a pen, pencil, or other marker and the other with a sharp point providing a pivot about which the drawing leg is turned.
- noun Awareness or understanding of one's purpose or objectives.
- noun An enclosing line or boundary; a circumference: synonym: circumference.
- noun A restricted space or area.
- noun Range or scope, as of understanding, perception, or authority: synonym: range.
- transitive verb To make a circuit of; circle.
- transitive verb To surround; encircle.
- transitive verb To understand; comprehend.
- transitive verb To accomplish or bring about.
- transitive verb To gain or achieve.
- transitive verb To scheme; plot.
- adjective Forming a curve.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A circle.
- noun Specifically—2. The circle of the earth.
- noun A passing round or in a circle; a circular course; a circuit; round; circumference.
- noun Range or extent within limits; hence, limit or boundary; limits.
- noun In music, the total range or number of tones which a given voice or instrument is capable of producing.
- noun Contrivance; scheme; plotting; plan.
- noun An instrument used to indicate the magnetic meridian, or the direction of objects with reference to that meridian.
- noun A mathematical instrument for describing circles, or for measuring figures, distances between two points, etc.: commonly in the plural.
- noun In zoology, the radius of the dentary apparatus of a sea-urchin. See
radius , and cut underlantern . - noun In archery, elevation of the arrow in shooting.
- noun To keep within bounds.
- To grasp mentally; comprehend.
- To adjust or orient by means of a compass.
- To level a compass.
- In a compass or curve; in archery, at an elevation.
- To the limit.
- noun [capitalized] In astronomy, a small southern constellation.
- To stretch round; extend about so as to embrace; inclose; encircle; environ; surround.
- To go about or round; make the circuit of.
- To obtain; attain to; procure; gain; bring within one's power; accomplish.
- To purpose; intend; imagine; plot; contrive.
- To canvass; reflect upon; ponder.
- To bend in the form of a circle or curve; make circular or curved: as, to
compass timber for a ship. - Synonyms To achieve, bring about, effect, secure.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.
- transitive verb To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about.
- transitive verb To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.
- transitive verb Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding. To curve; to bend into a circular form.
- transitive verb (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
- noun A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.
- noun An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference.
- noun An inclosed space; an area; extent.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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"The book, though small in compass, is evidently the work of great research and reflection, and is a valuable acquisition to historical literature."
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Agreed with hengst, just another thing to add on, if his compass is the type (as most are) with a rotating housing, he cant use the marking within the housing to keep on his original bearing, otherwise mistakes in shooting short bearings could result in compounding misdirection.
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Agreed with hengst, just another thing to add on, if his compass is the type (as most are) with a rotating housing, he cant use the marking within the housing to keep on his original bearing, otherwise mistakes in shooting short bearings could result in compounding misdirection.
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And this compass is the best I can make – though my next will be. better!
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The possession of a compass is an indication that the subject of "escaping" has been thought of, and the question, "Have you a compass?" is the prison-camp way of saying, "What do you think of making a try?"
Three Times and Out: A Canadian Boy's Experience in Germany Nellie L. McClung 1918
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One of the most serious examples where a recalibration of the moral compass is urgently needed concerns the 3,400 Iranian dissidents residing in Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.
Ali Safavi: WikiLeaks Disclosures and the Historic Opportunity on Iran Ali Safavi 2010
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One of the most serious examples where a recalibration of the moral compass is urgently needed concerns the 3,400 Iranian dissidents residing in Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.
Ali Safavi: WikiLeaks Disclosures and the Historic Opportunity on Iran Ali Safavi 2010
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One of the most serious examples where a recalibration of the moral compass is urgently needed concerns the 3,400 Iranian dissidents residing in Camp Ashraf, northeast of Baghdad.
Ali Safavi: WikiLeaks Disclosures and the Historic Opportunity on Iran Ali Safavi 2010
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So what happens if that compass is off-course with my readers?
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Somehow I think your inner compass is guiding you just fine.
brtom commented on the word compass
But all ye Gods,
Adore him, who to compass all this dies,
Adore the Son, and honour him as mee.
Milton, Paradise Lost III
December 19, 2006