Co*er"cion (?), n. [L.
coercio, fr. coercere. See Coerce.]
1. The act or process of coercing.
2. (Law) The application to
another of either physical or moral force. When the force is
physical, and cannot be resisted, then the act produced by it is
a nullity, so far as concerns the party coerced. When the force
is moral, then the act, though voidable, is imputable to the
party doing it, unless he be so paralyzed by terror as to act
convulsively. At the same time coercion is not negatived by the
fact of submission under force. "Coactus volui" (I consented
under compulsion) is the condition of mind which, when there is
volition forced by coercion, annuls the result of such
coercion. Wharton.