commutator 
rents from the battery without changing the 
arrangement of I lie conductors from the poles: 
as, Berlin's i-nmiiiiilatiir. In tin- macm-to electric 
or dynamo eh"'l rir machines (see >[ i-ti /V) a i miit.il.ir 
is ol'ililiarily eliijil'.yril In Ir-^ilLiI- the ilircelii.il of the 
i IIITI lit Ihl'.u-h thi ,-\t. ni;il eiivnit. 
2. A contrivance I'm- \arying tho strength of 
iin electric current liy bringing either a ]>iprtii>n 
in- the whole of the volt:iir cells in a battery 
into the circuit. 
commute (ko-muf), >.; pret. and pp. (/;/////. 
ppr. fomiiiiitnii/. [ Sp. i-inmtiitiir = 1'j;. </- 
iitiitiir It. ciiiiiiitiiinri . < I,, fiiiiimnlari: ehnngc, 
exchange, (.mm- (intensive) 4- iinilnri-. change: 
SIT iiiii/iili/i . iniilil/inii, etc.] I. trans. 1. To ex- 
change; put in the place of another (thing or 
person); give or receive for another; substi- 
tute another tiling for. 
This Miiart was i-ut,,iut,'il for fthaillc. 
Ililmm-ixl, Works, IV. .Mil. 
IJ.nl will lint Stltfer US t.i <"; >n:ff> a illlt) . lie. -a I ISC all in 
hUilni-. Jer. Tiiiil'ir, Works (i-d. Is;!.-,), I. -..::. 
llavinu 1-inninnti'tl his i''tt> -<i\ . n imity for a c.nisiilci- 
ahlc sum of inoncy. /' "", Kent, anil Isa., xv. 
Spcriiieally (") 'I'n exchange on penalty or punishment 
for another of less severity. 
Let him rnnti/1'it'' his eternal fear with a temporal snf- 
fcrlng, pivvcntiim liml's judgment liy passing one of his 
own. ./(/. Tuiilnf, Works (i-il. 18X>), I. 5:. 
The utmost that could he ohtiiineil was that her Sen- 
tence Mllolllil IT ro,ti,n"/''>l t'li'Ml hunting to licheailing. 
Mncanlat/, Hist. Kng., v. 
(/>) To substitute one sort of burden for annilii-r : espe- 
rially, ti> substitute money payment for payment in kind 
or the performance of a compulsory duty : as, to com /" "'< 
lithe,. 
\ severe tax, which the noble reluctantly paid anil 
which the penniless culprit commuted by personal slavery, 
was sufficiently unjust as well as absurd. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, I. 27. 
2. In elect., to regulate (the direction of an 
electrical current) as by a commutator. 
II. intrants. If. To serve as a substitute. 
Those institutions which God designed for means to fur- 
ther men in holiness, they look upon as a privilege to serve 
instead of it, and to commute for it. South, Hermons. 
2. To pay in money instead of in kind or in 
duty. 
He . . . thinks it unlawful to co//i/uu/, and that he ii 
lionuil to pay ills vow in kind. 
Jer. Taylor, Rule of Conscience, i. 4. 
3. To pay a single snm as an equivalent for 
a number of successive payments; specifically, 
to purchase and use a commutation-ticket. 
commuter (ko-mu'ter), n. One who commutes ; 
speeitically, one who purchases and uses a com- 
mutation-ticket. 
commutual (ko-mu'tu-al), a. [< com- + mutu- 
al.] Mutual; reciprocal. [Rare and poetical.] 
There, with commutual zeal, we both had strove 
Tn act* of dear benevolence and love. Pope, Odyssey. 
commutuality (ko-mu-tu-al'i-ti), n. [< corn- 
mutual + -ity.] The state or quality of being 
commutual ; reciprocal union. [Bare.] 
comose (ko'mos), a. [< L. comosvs, < coma, 
hair: see co/wo 2 .] Hairy ; comate. (n)lnentotn., 
specifically, tipped with a brush or tuft of hairs ; having 
a bunch of hairs on the apex, (ft) In hot., furnished witli 
a coma. See cut under coniaZ. 
comous (ko'mus), a. [< L. comosus, hairy: see 
</')>.] Same as comose. 
cqmp. An abbreviation of compare, compara- 
lirr. composition, and compound. 
compackt, f. t. An obsolete form of compact^. 
compact 1 (kom-pakf), a. and N. [Formerly 
compacte; = D. Q. compact = Dan. kompakt, < 
F. compacte = Sp. Pg. compncto = It. compatto, 
< L. compactm, joined together, pp. of com- 
ptngere, join together, make close or fast, < 
co/-, together, -r pangere, pp. pactus, fasten, 
set, fix, akin to l&.fang: see /</.] I. a. 1. 
Closely and firmly united, as the parts or par- 
ticles of solid bodies ; having the parts or par- 
ticles pressed or packed together; solid; dense: 
as, a compact mass of people. 
i ; lass, crystal, gems, and other compact liodies. 
Norton, Opticks. 
2. In ciitoiii., specifically, compacted or pressed 
close, as a jointed organ, or any part of it, when 
the joints are very closely united, forming a 
continuous mass: as, a compact antennal club: 
compact palpi. 3. Connected or expressed 
with closeness or brevity, as ideas; hence, of 
literary style, pithy; terse; not diffuse; not 
verbose : as, a compact discourse. 
Where a foreign tongue is elegant, expressive, close, and 
annimct, we must I iu translating it| study the utmost force 
of our language. /Wfo/i, On Reading the Classics. 
4. Compacted ; joined ; held together. 
Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compart together. 
Ps. cxxii. 3. 
We wont to sec the mines of the old hav. 
with that .n n mi n. ms sand in win. h tin materials are layd, 
as the like I . hal.lU I., I,., fi'llll'l. 
7, 1646. 
6. CompoHcd; consisting; made. [Poetical.] 
My heart U nut ...*,iyi./ ..f Hint ii..r -t, .1 
hi Vlel f. t 
line low churl, ..;, rl ,,f thankless earth, 
The fata! h> w.u.l .if all years t" 
i/.,,,,, liodiva. 
Syn. 1. Firm, condensed. -3. Terse, sententious, suc- 
cinct, . 
Il.t " Structure ; frame. 
He was of a mean or Inw ..INI/.././, l.ut withuiit iliMpro- 
ixirtion an. I uncvenucs either in lineaments or part*. 
atrO. /;,*. i:i,-h. in., p. n- 
compact 1 (kom-pakf), r. /. [Formerly also, 
erroneously, mm/mcl;; < ML. row /mi-tan: join, 
unite, < L. mm/Mii-tiix. pp.: see compact*. .] 
1. To thrust, drive, pack, or press closely to- 
gether; join firmly; consolidate, as the parts 
which compose a boily; condense. 
Tlie air is partially exhausted, thus causing the atlllo- 
spheric pressure to operate in comparting the ;ml]. int" 
l'ii|" i / '.- . liict., III. 490. 
Many souls . . . might lie poetic gardens if they would 
rinniutfi all their energies into growing two roses and a 
lily three IMK-IUS In all, fora lifetinie. 
X. l.miirr, The English Novel, p. 102. 
2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a system ; 
join the parts of tightly; bring into close junc- 
tion, an the sheets of a book or other loose ma- 
terials, by beating, pressure, or the like. 
The whole hinly fitly joined together and 
i:ph. iv. 18. 
A bridge of that length ... so curiously compacted 
together with one only arch. Coryat, Crudities, I. 208. 
Tlie condensing or cinnpacliwj is now generally accom- 
plished by passing the sheets between the cylinders of a 
rolling machine. Kiicyc. Brit., IV. 42. 
3. To make firm or stable; establish firmly; 
confirm; solidify. 
Nor are the nerves of his compacted strength 
Htretch'd and dissolved int.. unsinew'd length. 
Sir J. Ucuhain. 
As to my character, it is not yet compacted enough for 
inspection. T. Winthrup, Cecil Dreeme, vi. 
compact' 2 (kom'pakt, formerly kom-pakf), n. 
[= It. i-oiiipiiltn, < L. compactum, compectum,&u 
agreement, prop. neut. of compactus, compectus, 
pp. of compacted, compeciaci, agree with, < com-, 
with, + padscerc, deponent pacisci, pp. pactus, 
agree, covenant: see;>c/.] An agreement; a 
contract between parties ; in general, any cove- 
nant or contract between individuals, mem- 
bers of a community, or nations. 
What is the course and drift of your compact I 
Skak., C. of E., ii. 2. 
The law of nations depends on mutual compact^, treaties, 
leagues, etc. Blackttone. 
By a mutual compact, we talked little in the cars. 
O. W. Holmes, Old Vol. of Life, p. 19. 
Family Compact See family. Mayflower compact, 
an agreement entered into by the Pilgrims in the cabin 
of the Mayflower, November llth, 1620, whereby they 
covenanted and combined themselves " together into a 
civil hii.lv politick, and to enact, constitute and frame 
such just and equal laws, ordenances, acts, constitutions 
and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most 
meet e and convenient for the general good of the Colonle. " 
Social compact. Same as nodal contract. See contract. 
compact- (kom-pakf), a. [< L. compactus, pp. 
of com pacisci, agree with: see compact^, .] 
United in a compact ; leagued ; confederated. 
Thou pernicious woman, 
Compact with her that's gone ! 
Skak., M. for M., v. I. 
compact 2 (kom-pakf )," [< compact?, n.} To 
make a contract or enter into an agreement. 
Satume resolued to destroy his male children, either 
hailing so compacted with his brother Titan, or to preuent 
the prophesie, which was that his sonne should depose him. 
Sandu*, Travailes, p. 225. 
compactedly (kom-pak'ted-li), adv. In a com- 
pact manner; compendiously; tersely; closely. 
Lorelacc. [Rare.] 
compactedness (kom-pak'ted-nes), n. The 
state of being compacted or firmly and close- 
ly bound together; closeness and firmness of 
parts; compactness. 
compactor (kom-pak'ter), . One who com- 
pacts or unites. 
cqmpactible (kom-pak'ti-bl), a. [< compact 1 + 
-/')/'.] Capable of being joined or compacted. 
compactilet (kpm-pak'til), a. [< L. coinpuclilin, 
< eompartus, pp. of compingere : see compact 1 , a., 
and -ile.] Bound, tied, or twined together. 
These [garlands) were made lip after all ways of art, <-n>- 
pactile, sutile, plectlle. .Sir T. Broirne, Misc. Tracts, ii. 
compaction' t (kom-pak'shon), H. [< L. compac- 
tio(n-), < compingere, pp. compactus, join toge- 
companion 
tlier: sec C<///K(C/ I, (/.] The act of making or 
the state of being compact. [Kare.] 
l'.ilililhu> which Hland 
COmpaction'-'t (kom-pak'shiin). //. | As r<iini>nrl- 
+ -inn. after M>M|MM#Oftl.J A compact or an 
agreement. 
\ loll le\il 
in I-'. II Srnn - I'n lure, of olden Time, p. 3*6. 
compactly (kom pakt 'lil. ml/-. Ill a comjiact 
01 mlenseil manner; closely ; concisely ; brief- 
ly; tersely ; neatly. 
\ ..n have |nit all tin. together most . 
I. 'Huh, To Harton. 
compactness (kom-pakt'neH), n. The state or 
quality of being einnpai-t. ,, Kirainesj; close union 
"I part*. 
In the undent city . . . the extreme ooMpcwdMM of the 
gnilitieal -tiuefno made represent^ U! 
./ /'..(.. \in.-r l'..l. I.I.H., p. 71. 
('<) Terseness; condensation; cnnclHenrM, as of expres- 
sion or style. 
Tlie monotonous versification hi.-h l'i.|.e Imd iutni- 
ililec.l. iii.l..li^. ir.,1,, u...| liy In, lirllli.int "II an. I Mtcnm- 
jMctneu of expreaslon, pall. . I mi the . ar ..I the pul.li.-. 
Miicaulai/, Moore's Byron. 
compacture (kom-pak'tur), n. [< L. compme- 
tni'ii, < compactm, pp. of niuipiHiirrr, join to- 
gether: see compact*, .] Close union or con- 
nection of parts; structure well connected or 
closely wrought; manner of joining. 
With comely e passe and cmapaetvre strong. 
Spauer, If. Q., if IX. 24. 
compage (kom-paj'), n. [< L. compages: see 
r.i//i</,/, .-. ] Same as compages. 
The ship of civilization, either ancient or mo<leni, is a 
vast jointed comjtafjeut timin-rs and of tioards, boltd and 
I... HIM I together. It. Taylor. 
compages (kom-pa'jez), n. [< L. compaget, a 
joining together, a structure, \compingere (coni- 
P a ff-)> join together: seecoiyac<l,rt.] 1. Agys- 
tem or structure of many united parts. [Rare.] 
y..iir glass droiis, from which if the least portion lie 
hroken, the whole cottipagcg immediately dissolves and 
shatters Into dust and atoms. 
Bp. Parker, Platonlck Philos., p. 4ti. 
And as for all that eompagct of external bodies which 
you contend for, I shall grant you it.s existence. Berkeley. 
2. [NL.] In anat. : (a) An articulation. (6) A 
commissure. 
compaginatet (kom-paj'i-nat), v. t. [< LL. 
compaginatiu, pp. of compaijinare, join together, 
< L. compatio(compagin-), collateral form of com- 
pages: see compagcseMA compact^.] To set to- 
gether; unite or hold together. Montague. 
COmpaginationt (kom-paj-i-na'shon), n. [< 
LL. compaginatio(n-), < compaoinare, join toge- 
ther: see compaginate.] Union of parts ; struc- 
ture; connection; contexture. 
A compaffination of many parts. 
Jer. Taylor, Repentance, v. C 3. 
compaignablet, <* See companiabte. Chaucer. 
compaigniet, " An obsolete form of company. 
Chaucer. 
compamet, . A word whose meaning has not 
been ascertained, but supposed to mean ' com- 
panion, friend,' occurring in the following pas- 
sage: 
As help me God, It wol not lie, comiMtne [var. combame], 
I love another, and elles were I to blame. 
Chaucer, Miller's Tale, 1. 52S. 
companablet, a. See companiable. Cliaucer. 
companablenesst, " Bee companiabteness. Sir 
I'. Sidney. 
companaget, M. [ME. companage, < OF. com- 
panagr ( > ML. companagiMm) = It. comjtanatico, 
< ML. "coinpanaticnm (ML. also companu), com- 
panage, < L. com-, with, + p<ini, bread: see 
company, .] All kinds of sustenance except 
bread and drink. Wharton. 
COmpaniablet, a. [< ME. company able, also 
companable, compaignablf, sociable, social, < 
OF. compaignaMf, compagnable, cumpaijnable, 
etc.,<.comiiaigiiie, compagaie, etc., company: see 
company, n., and -able.'] Maintaining friendly 
intercourse; companionable; social. 
To gentilmen he was right servisable, 
And tlier withall full good and compatialile. 
Generydet (E. E. T. S.), 1. 2261. 
Towards his queen he was nothing uxorious, but com- 
paniabte and respective. Bacon, Hen. VII., p. 241. 
COmpaniableneSSt, n. [Also compa nobleness; < 
companiable + -ness."] The quality of being 
companionable ; sociableness. 
His retfreduess was for prayer, his eomjxiniaMfiifUi was 
for preaching. /.'/.. Hull. Meditations, iv. 
companion 1 (kom-pan'yon), n. [< ME. com- 
painoitn, < OF.'compainon, compaignoti, compa- 
