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enforce - 7 dictionary results
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
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-fawr-sid-lee, -fohr-] , adverb en⋅forc⋅er, noun
en⋅forc⋅ive, adjective
Synonyms:
1. administer, impose, execute, apply.
1. administer, impose, execute, apply.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To enforce
| en·force (ěn-fôrs', -fōrs') tr.v. en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es
[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.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Enforce
En*force"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enforcing.] [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.Enforce
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.Enforce
En*force"\, n. Force; strength; power. [Obs.] A petty enterprise of small enforce. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : enforce
Spanish:
aplicar, imponer,
German:
erzwingen,
Japanese:
実施する
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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