Enforce Definition
enforce
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“strong”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /ɪnˈfɔːs/
- Rhymes: -ɔːs
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-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.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- 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.
- 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 17th c.]
- The police are there to enforce the law.
Derived terms
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