Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Enforce
En-force′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enforced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enforcing
.] 1.
To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel;
as, to
. enforce
obedience to commandsInward joy
enforced
my heart to smile. Shakespeare
2.
To make or gain by force; to obtain by force;
“Enforcing furious way.” as, to
. enforce
a passageSpenser.
3.
To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
As swift as stones
Enforced
from the old Assyrian slings. Shakespeare
4.
To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy;
as, to
. enforce
arguments or requestsEnforcing
sentiment of the thrust humanity. Burke.
5.
To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor;
as, to
. enforce
the laws6.
To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
Enforce
him with his envy to the people. Shakespeare
En-force
,Verb.
I.
1.
To attempt by force.
[Obs.]
2.
To prove; to evince.
[R.]
Hooker.
3.
To strengthen; to grow strong.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
En-force′
,Noun.
Force; strength; power.
[Obs.]
A petty enterprise of small
enforce
. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Enforce
ENFO'RCE
, v.t.1.
To give strength to; to strengthen; to invigorate. [See Def.5.]2.
To make or gain by force; to force; as, to enforce a passage.3.
To put in act by violence; to drive.Stones enforced from the old Assyrian slings.
4.
To instigate; to urge on; to animate.5.
To urge with energy; to give force to; to impress on the mind; as, to enforce remarks or arguments.6.
To compel; to constrain; to force.7.
To put in execution; to cause to take effect; as, to enforce the laws.8.
To press with a charge.9.
To prove; to evince. [Little used.]ENFO'RCE
,Verb.
I.
ENFO'RCE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
enforce
enforce
English
Alternative forms
- inforce (obsolete)
Verb
enforce (third-person singular simple present enforces, present participle enforcing, simple past and past participle enforced)
- (obsolete, transitive) To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc. [14th-18thc.]
- (obsolete, transitive) To intensify, make stronger, add force to. [14th-18thc.]
- (obsolete, reflexive) To exert oneself, to try hard. [14th-17thc.]
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Bk.VII:
- I pray you enforce youreselff at that justis that ye may be beste, for my love.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Bk.VII:
- To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize. [from 15thc.]
- The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
- (archaic) To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force. [from 16thc.]
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, I.2.4.iv:
- Uladislaus the Second, King of Poland, and Peter Dunnius, Earl of Shrine […] had been hunting late, and were enforced to lodge in a poor cottage.
- 1899, E. OE. Somerville and Martin Ross, Some Experiences of an Irish R.M., Great Uncle McCarthy:
- In a few minutes I was stealthily groping my way down my own staircase, with a box of matches in my hand, enforced by scientific curiosity, but none the less armed with a stick.
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, I.2.4.iv:
- To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force. [from 17thc.]
- The police are there to enforce the law.
- (obsolete) To make or gain by force; to force.
- to enforce a passage
- Spenser
- enforcing furious way
- (obsolete) To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
- Shakespeare
- As swift as stones / Enforced from the old Assyrian slings.
- Shakespeare
- (obsolete) To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy.
- to enforce arguments or requests
- Burke
- enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity
- (obsolete) To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
- Shakespeare
- Enforce him with his envy to the people.
- Shakespeare
- To prove; to evince.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Hooker to this entry?)
Derived terms
Translations
to strengthen
to exert
|
to compel
|
to keep up