Word Direct Answers

What does "enforce" mean?

Enforce: To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage. "Enforcing furious way." Spenser.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To put in motion or action by violence; to drive. As swift as stones Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Shak.
  2. 3.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.
  3. 4.To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws.
  4. 5.To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon. Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak.
  5. 6.To attempt by force. [Obs.]
  6. 7.To prove; to evince. [R.] Hooker.
  7. 8.To strengthen; to grow strong. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  8. 9.Force; strength; power. [Obs.] A petty enterprise of small enforce. Milton.

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