ENFORCE

enforce, implement, apply

(verb) ensure observance of laws and rules; “Apply the rules to everyone”

enforce, impose, constrain

(verb) compel to behave in a certain way; “Social relations impose courtesy”; “duty constrains one to act often contrary to one’s desires or inclinations”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

enforce (third-person singular simple present enforces, present participle enforcing, simple past and past participle enforced)

To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force. [from 17thc.]

To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize. [from 15thc.]

(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.]

(obsolete) To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force. [from 16thc.]

(obsolete) To make or gain by force; to force.

(obsolete) To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.

(obsolete) To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy.

(obsolete) To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.

(obsolete) To prove; to evince.

Anagrams

• forcenĂ©

Source: Wiktionary


En*force", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enforcing.] Etym: [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L. in) + F. force. See Force.]

1. To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands. Inward joy enforced my heart to smile. Shak.

2. To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage. "Enforcing furious way." Spenser.

3. To put in motion or action by violence; to drive. As swift as stones Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Shak.

4. To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests. Enforcing 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 laws.

6. To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon. Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak.

En*force, v. i.

1. To attempt by force. [Obs.]

2. To prove; to evince. [R.] Hooker.

3. To strengthen; to grow strong. [Obs.] Chaucer.

En*force", n.

Definition: Force; strength; power. [Obs.] A petty enterprise of small enforce. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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