Quantcast
 
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

ENFORCER

 - 6 dictionary results

en⋅forc⋅er

  [en-fawr-ser, -fohr-]
–noun
1. a person or thing that enforces.
2. the member of a group, esp. of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.
3. a person, esp. a public official, who enforces laws, regulations, rules, or the like.
4. Also called policeman. Ice Hockey. a physically intimidating or willingly belligerent player who is counted on to retaliate when rough tactics are used by the opposing team.
Use ENFORCER in a Sentence
Origin:
1570–80; enforce + -er 1

en⋅force

  [en-fawrs, -fohrs]
–verb (used with object), -forced, -forc⋅ing.
1. to put or keep in force; compel obedience to: to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
2. to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
3. to impose (a course of action) upon a person: The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
4. to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force: to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
5. to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon: He enforced his argument by adding details.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME enforcen < AF enforcer, OF enforcier, enforc(ir), equiv. to en- en- 1 + forci(e)r to force

Related forms:
en⋅force⋅a⋅ble, adjective
en⋅force⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
en⋅forc⋅ed⋅ly  [en-fawr-sid-lee, -fohr-] , adverb
en⋅forc⋅er, noun
en⋅forc⋅ive, adjective

Synonyms:
1. administer, impose, execute, apply.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ENFORCER
en·force   (ěn-fôrs', -fōrs')   
tr.v.   en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es

  1. To compel observance of or obedience to: enforce a law.

  2. To impose (a kind of behavior, for example): enforce military discipline.

  3. To give force to; reinforce: "enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell" (Albert C. Baugh).


[Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, to exert force, compel, and from enforcir, to strengthen : en-, causative pref.; see en-1 + force, strength; see force.]
en·force'a·bil'i·ty n., en·force'a·ble adj., en·force'ment n., en·forc'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
enforcer

  1. n.
    a bully; a thug or bodyguard. : Sam is the perfect enforcer. Meaner than all get out.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

enforce 
1340, from en- "make, put in" + force.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: en·force
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: en·forced; en·forc·ing
: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled <enforcing the divorce decree> enforce this article by appropriate legislation —U.S. Constitution amendment XIX>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see ENFORCER on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
ExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyThe Daily BeastUrbanspoonAsk AnswersBloglinesSendori