compast

Verb

compass (third-person singular simple present compasses, present participle compassing, simple past and past participle compassed)

1. To surround; to encircle; to environ; to stretch round.
   • Now all the blessings
     Of a glad father compass thee about!1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published...

   Synonyms:

   encircle, environ, surround

2. To go about or round entirely; to traverse.
   • So she goeth around the hill compassing.1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 174

   Synonyms:

   cover, traverse

3. (dated) To accomplish; to reach; to achieve; to obtain.
   • […] tho' theſe ſeem'd to be very unfit Inſtruments for compaſſing of that great Deſign for which they were then employ'd, becauſe of their Inability and Uncapacity in performing the Work ſo very great and important; […]1720, John Shaw, “Of Religion”, in The Fundamental Doctrines of the Church of England, […], volume I, London: […] George Strahan, […] William Mears, […], page 36

   Synonyms:

   accomplish, achieve, attain, gain, get to, reach

4. (dated) To plot; to scheme (against someone).
   • That he plotted and compassed to raise Sedition and Rebellion [...]1600, R. Bagshaw, “The Arraignment and Judgement of Captain Thomas Lee”, in Cobbett's Complete Collection of State Trials, volume 1, published 1809, pages 1403–04

   Synonyms:

   conspire, plot, scheme

See all 15 meanings of compass