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Foist vs Compel - What's the difference?

foist | compel |

In lang=en terms the difference between foist and compel

is that foist is to pass off as genuine or worthy while compel is to exact, extort, (make) produce by force.

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between foist and compel

is that foist is (obsolete) a light and fast-sailing ship while compel is (obsolete) to call forth; to summon.

As verbs the difference between foist and compel

is that foist is to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant while compel is (transitive|archaic|literally) to drive together, round up.

As a noun foist

is a thief or pickpocket or foist can be (obsolete) a light and fast-sailing ship.

foist

English

Etymology 1

Probably from obsolete (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant.
  • * 2006 — , The Gift of Language
  • attempts to foist alleged grammatical “correctness” on native speakers of an “incorrect” dialect are nothing but the unacknowledged and oppressive exercise of social control
  • * {{quote-book, passage=the Tale of Zayn al-Asnám is one of two which Galland repudiated, as having been foisted into his 8th volume without his knowledge
  • , author=William Alexander Clouston , title= , year=}}
  • To force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit.
  • To pass off as genuine or worthy.
  • * (rfdate) Jonathan Spivak — foist costly and valueless products on the public
  • Synonyms
    * fob off * pass off * pawn off * palm off

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A thief or pickpocket.
  • * 1977 , Gãmini Salgãdo, The Elizabethan Underworld , Folio Society 2006, p. 54:
  • The foist had lately arrived form the country and was known to be doing a thriving trade in and around Westminster Hall where many country folk and others came to see lawyers.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A light and fast-sailing ship.
  • (Beaumont and Fletcher)
    (Webster 1913) English transitive verbs

    compel

    English

    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)

    Derived terms

    * compellable * compeller * compelling * compellation * compel testimony

    References

    * * * Random House Webster’s Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996. English control verbs English transitive verbs