WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Co*er"cive
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : Defn: Serving or intended to coerce; having power to constrain. -- Co*er"cive*ly, adv. -- Co*er"cive*ness, n. Coercive power can only influence us to outward practice. Bp. Warburton. Coercive or Coercitive force (Magnetism), the power or force which in iron or steel produces a slowness or difficulty in imparting magnetism to it, and also interposes an obstacle to the return of a bar to its natural state when active magnetism has ceased. It plainly depends on the molecular constitution of the metal. Nichol. The power of resisting magnetization or demagnization is sometimes called coercive force. S. Thompson.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913