conscript
conscript Lexical Profile
conscript Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person compulsorily enlisted into state service, typically into the armed forces.
"The young conscript spent six months in basic training before being assigned to a logistics unit."
• verb
To enlist someone compulsorily into state service, typically into the armed forces.
"During the national emergency, the government voted to conscript citizens between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five."
To compel or press someone or something into a particular task, role, or service.
"When the catering staff arrived late, several family members were conscripted to help set the tables."
• adjective
Enlisted compulsorily or formed of individuals required by law to serve in the armed forces.
"Historians debated the effectiveness of a conscript army compared to a professional all-volunteer force."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Conscript' is a heteronym whose pronunciation shifts with its part of speech: as a noun or adjective, the stress falls on the first syllable (CON-script), whereas as a verb, the stress falls on the second syllable (con-SCRIPT).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'conscriptus', the past participle of 'conscribere', meaning 'to enroll, enlist, or write together on a list', formed from 'com-' (together) and 'scribere' (to write).