arcere

enclose, restrain

2 / 2

A frightened woman reluctantly hands over her wallet while another woman threatens her with a knife and holds out a demanding hand.

noun

coercion

koh-UR-zhuhn/kəʊˈɜːrʒn/

The use of force, threats, or pressure to make someone act.

Etymology

coLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly

+ercLatinenclose, restrain

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

The roots convey enclosing or restraining, and the ending names the act. Coercion carries that idea of constraint into compelling someone to act through force, pressure, or threats.

Full entry

Related word entries

coerce
coercion