From Latin 'coercere' (to enclose, restrain) — shifted from physical containment to psychological compulsion.
To persuade someone to do something by using force or threats; to compel against one's will.
From Latin coercēre (to enclose, to constrain, to restrain by force, to keep within limits), from co- (together, completely) + arcēre (to keep away, to prevent, to enclose), from PIE *h2erk- (to hold, confine, guard). The PIE root *h2erk- also gives Latin arca (chest, box, strongbox — a container that holds things in), arcānum (secret, something kept confined), and possibly Greek arkein (to be enough, to hold off). To coerce is to hold someone completely — to enclose their freedom of action so thoroughly that only the coercer's desired outcome remains possible