c. 1600, "that compels," present-participle adjective from compel. Meaning "demanding attention" is from 1901. Related: Compellingly.
Entries linking to compelling
compel v.
"to drive or urge irresistibly by physical or moral force," mid-14c., from Old French compellir and directly from Latin compellere "to drive together, drive to one place" (of cattle), "to force or compel" (of persons), from com "with, together" (see com-) + pellere "to drive" (from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive"). Related: Compelled; compelling.