Part 2177

<cs><col>Azimuth compass</col>. <cd>See under <er>Azimuth</er>.</cd> -- <col>Beam compass</col>. <cd>See under <er>Beam</er>.</cd> -- <col>Compass card</col>, <cd>the eircular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs.</cd> -- <col>Compass dial</col>, <cd>a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day.</cd> -- <col>Compass plane</col> <fld>(Carp.)</fld>, <cd>a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Compass plant</col>, <col>Compass flower</col></mcol> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a plant of the American prairies (<spn>Silphium laciniatum</spn>), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south.</cd></cs>

<blockquote>Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the <b>compass flower</b>. <i>Longefellow.</i></blockquote>

-- <col>Compass saw</col>, <cd>a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also <altname>fret saw</altname> and <altname>keyhole saw</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Compass timber</col> <fld>(Shipbuilding)</fld>, <cd>curved or crooked timber.</cd> -- <col>Compass window</col> <fld>(Arch.)</fld>, <cd>a circular bay window or oriel window. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also <i>rhumbs</i>, and the glass-covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position.</cd> -- <col>Surveyor's compass</col>, <cd>an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See <er>Circumferentor</er>.</cd> -- <col>Variation compass</col>, <cd>a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle.</cd> -- <col>To fetch a compass</col>, <cd>to make a circuit.</cd>

<h1>Compass</h1> <Xpage=289>

<hw>Com"pass</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Compassed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Compassing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[F. <ets>compasser</ets>, LL. <ets>compassare</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.</def>

<blockquote>Ye shall <b>compass</b> the city seven times. <i>Josh. vi. 4.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>We the globe can <b>compass</b> soon. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to envior; to invest; to besiege; -- used with <i>about</i>, <i>round</i>, <i>around</i>, and <i>round about</i>.</def>

<blockquote>With terrors and with clamors <b>compassed</b> round. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Now all the blessings

<blockquote>Of a glad cast a trench about thee, and <b>compass</b> thee round.uke xix. 43.

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.</def>

<blockquote>If I can chek my erring love, I will: If not, to <b>compass</b> her I'll use my skill. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>How can you to <b>compass</b> your designs? <i>Denham.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To curve; to bend into a circular form.</def> <mark>[Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.</def>

<blockquote><b>Compassing</b> and <b>imagining</b> the death of the king are synonymous terms; <b>compassing</b> signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. <i>Blackstone.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Compassable</h1> <Xpage=289>

<hw>Com"pass*a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being compassed or accomplished.</def>

<i>Burke.</i>

<h1>Compassed</h1> <Xpage=289>

<hw>Com"passed</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Rounded; arched.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>She came . . . into the <b>compassed</b> window. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Compasses</h1> <Xpage=289>

<hw>Com"pass*es</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>, <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or (rarely) more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move.</def>

<note>&hand; The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points, pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable points are generally called <i>dividers</i>. See <er>Dividers</er>.</note>

<cs><col>Bow compasses</col>. <cd>See <er>Bow-compass</er>.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Caliber compasses</col>, <col>Caliper compasses</col></mcol>. <cd>See <er>Calipers</er>.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Proportional</col>, <col>Triangular</col>, etc., <col>compasses</col></mcol>. <cd>See under <er>Proportional</er>, etc.</cd></cs>