Enforce
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ɪnˈfÉ”Ës/
- Rhymes: -É”Ë(ɹ)s
Alternative forms
- inforce obsolete
Origin
From Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiÄre, from in- + fortis ("strong").
Full definition of enforce
Verb
- (obsolete, transitive) To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc. 14th-18th c.
- (obsolete, transitive) To intensify, make stronger, add force to. 14th-18th c.
- (obsolete, reflexive) To exert oneself, to try hard. 14th-17th c.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:I pray you enforce youreselff at that justis that ye may be beste, for my love.
- To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize. from 15th c.The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
- (archaic) To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force. from 16th c.
- 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.
- To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force. from 17th c.The police are there to enforce the law.
- (obsolete) To make or gain by force; to force.to enforce a passage
- Spenserenforcing furious way
- (obsolete) To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
- ShakespeareAs swift as stones
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. - (obsolete) To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy.to enforce arguments or requests
- Burkeenforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity
- (obsolete) To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
- ShakespeareEnforce him with his envy to the people.
- To prove; to evince.