| 释义 |
com·pass
I. \ˈkəmpəs also ˈkäm-\ verb
(-ed/-ing/-es)
Etymology: Middle English compassen, from Old French compasser to measure, arrange, ponder, contrive, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin compassare to measure off by paces, from Latin com- + (assumed) Vulgar Latin passare to go, move, from Latin passus step, pace — more at pace
transitive verb
1. : to devise or contrive often in a treacherous manner : plot
2.
a. : to lie around : girdle, encompass
< island compassed by the sea >
< the Great Peace beyond all this turmoil and fret compassed me around — L.P.Smith >
b. : to move around : travel entirely around (as a circle or curved course) : encircle
< Magellan's ship compassed the earth >
3. : to hem in or enclose in or as if in a ring : surround
< suddenly enemies compassed him on all sides >
4.
a. : to bring about : achieve, accomplish
< a writer … attempting a higher strain of elevation … than his powers can compass — C.E.Montague >
b. : to get at or within one's power : obtain
< compass his freedom >
5. obsolete : to bend into a circular form : curve
6. obsolete : to get around (someone) especially for one's own advantage
7. : grasp
< compassing an idea >
: comprehend
< could not compass the smallest problems >
intransitive verb
: to assume a circular or curved form : curve, bend
< a plank compassing under pressure >
Synonyms: see reach, surround
II. noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle English compas, from Middle French, from compasser to go round, measure, divide
1.
a. : an often rounded or curved boundary limit : circumference
< within the compass of the outer wall >
b. : an enclosed or delimited space or area often circumscribed
< three passengers shut up in the narrow compass of one lumbering old mail coach — Charles Dickens >
< the narrow compass of 21 pages — V.L.Parrington >
c. : range or limit of perception, cognizance, knowledge, interest, concern, or treatment
< impossible within the compass of this report to do justice to all the projects — J.B.Conant >
< disposing of his property … within the compass of the law — John Locke >
< works … of such compass and excellence as to supersede those of his predecessors — H.O.Taylor >
d. : the range of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument
e. obsolete : due bounds : limits imposed by moderation and good sense
2. obsolete : cunning ingenuity
3.
a. obsolete : circle
b. obsolete : a ring, globe, or other object with circular outline
c. : a circular motion or course : a roundabout way
< finishing the compass of his life >
< hawks rising in compasses through the air >
< a compass of seven days' journey — 2 Kings 3:9 (Authorized Version) >
d.
(1) : the curve of an arrow's flight
(2) : the angle of elevation determining this curve
4.
a. : a device for determining directions on the earth's surface by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north
b. : any of certain nonmagnetic devices that serve the same purpose as the magnetic compass (as the gyrocompass and the sky compass — see gyrocompass, magnetic needle, mariner's compass, sky compass, surveyor's compass
c. usually compasses plural : an instrument for describing circles, transferring measurements, and similar operations consisting in its simple form of two pointed branches joined at the top by a pivot, one of the branches generally having a pen or pencil point — called also pair of compasses
Synonyms: see range
 [compass 4a]
III. adjective
: forming a curve : curved, circular
< a compass timber >
IV. adverb
Etymology: compass (III)
obsolete : in an arc : so as to form an arc or circle
V. noun
: a guiding, governing, or motivating purpose
< a moral compass > |