com-

with, together; sometimes thoroughly

Forms

com-
con- — Used before many consonants in Latin.
col- — Used before l in Latin.
cor- — Used before r in Latin.
co- — Shortened especially before vowels.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *kom, ‘with; beside.’

Note

In some formations, togetherness shades into completeness; the prefix’s exact contribution can be uncertain.

70 / 265

noun

compass

KUM-pus/ˈkʌmpəs/

An instrument that indicates direction relative to magnetic north.

The compass needle points toward north.

A close-up of a magnetic compass, with a freely pivoting red-and-white needle pointing toward the N on its clearly marked directional dial.

Etymology

comLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly

+passLatinstep or pace

The roots connect with pacing out and measuring, leading to the name of the circle-drawing instrument. The magnetic direction-finder perhaps received the same name because it too was round and had a point.

In context

HISTORY17:15

Compass turned toward the magnet. But when we turn that off, it's going to turn back and point to the north. What that tells us is compass doesn't point to the north.

The Universe: Magnetic Storm Threatens Earth (S5, E3) | Full Episode | History

More examples

We checked the compass before leaving the trail.
A magnet interfered with the compass reading.
She carried a compass and a paper map.

Forms

compass · compasses

Similar words

magnetometer: Measures magnetic fields rather than necessarily displaying directions.