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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