Compact merges two Latin words sharing PIE *pag- (to fasten): compactus (fastened together → dense) and compactum (agreed together → covenant). The Mayflower Compact used the agreement sense. Cousin of pact, peace, pay, page, propaganda, impact, appease, and peasant.
Closely and firmly packed together; dense. As noun: (1) a formal agreement/covenant; (2) a small flat case. As verb: to press firmly together.
Two distinct Latin verbs converged into one English word. (1) The adjective/verb 'compact' (closely packed, to press together) comes from Latin 'compactus,' past participle of 'compingere' (to fasten together), from 'com-' (together) + 'pangere' (to fasten, to fix, to drive in), from PIE *pag- (to fasten, to fix). This root also gave us 'page' (a fixed sheet), 'pact' (a fastened agreement), 'peace' (a settled
The Mayflower Compact (1620) uses 'compact' in its Latin sense of compactum: a binding covenant. The 41 signers were not describing something small — they were solemnly agreeing to 'combine ourselves into a civil body politic.' This agreement sense is the older meaning, yet today most people think first of compact cars