Com·pass v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed p. pr. & vb. n. Compassing.]
 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.]
 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.
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 Com·passed a. Rounded; arched. [Obs.]
    She came . . . into the compassed window.   --Shak.
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