enforce

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: en=force

CIDE DICTIONARY

enforce, v. t. [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L. in) + F. force. See Force.].

•  To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands.  [1913 Webster]

  "Inward joy enforced my heart to smile."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]
•  To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.  [1913 Webster]

  "As swift as stones
  Enforced from the old Assyrian slings."  [1913 Webster]
•  To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests.  [1913 Webster]

  "Enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity."  [1913 Webster]
•  To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws.  [1913 Webster]
•  To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.  [1913 Webster]

  "Enforce him with his envy to the people."  [1913 Webster]

enforce, v. i. 

•  To attempt by force.  [1913 Webster]
•  To prove; to evince.  Hooker.  [1913 Webster]
•  To strengthen; to grow strong.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

enforce, n. 

 Force; strength; power.  [1913 Webster]
"A petty enterprise of small enforce."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

enforce, v.tr.
1 compel observance of (a law etc.).
2 (foll. by on, upon) impose (an action, conduct, one's will).
3 persist in (a demand or argument).

Derivative

enforceable adj. enforceability n. enforcedly adv. enforcer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF enforcir, -ier ult. f. L fortis strong

THESAURUS

enforce

abide by, accomplish, adhere to, administer, apply, bestow, bind, bring to bear, browbeat, bully, carry out, carry through, cause, cause to, coerce, compel, complete, constrain, demand, discharge, dose, dose with, drive, effect, effectuate, enforce upon, execute, fill out, force, force upon, fulfill, give, have, honor, impel, implement, impose, impose on, impose upon, impress upon, inflict, insist on, insist upon, intimidate, invoke, lay on, lean on, make, make out, mete out to, oblige, observe, perform, prescribe for, press, promulgate, prosecute, put in force, put in practice, put into effect, put into execution, put on, put through, put to use, put upon, railroad, reinforce, render, require, restrain, stress, support, tie, transact, use force upon

ROGET THESAURUS

enforce

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Advice

VB advise, counsel, give advice, give counsel, give a piece of advice, suggest, prompt, submonish, recommend, prescribe, advocate, exhort, enjoin, enforce, charge, instruct, call, call upon, dictate, expostulate, admonish, advise with, lay heads together, consult together, compare notes, hold a council, deliberate, be closeted with, confer, consult, refer to, call in, take advice, follow advice, be advised by, have at one's elbow, take one's cue from.

Compulsion

VB compel, force, make, drive, coerce, constrain, enforce, necessitate, oblige, force upon, press, cram down the throat, thrust down the throat, force down the throat, say it must be done, make a point of, insist upon, take no denial, put down, dragoon, extort, wring from, squeeze, put on the squeeze, put on the screws, turn on the screw, drag into, bind, bind over, pin down, tie down, require, tax, put in force, commandeer, restrain.

Dueness

VB be due, to, be the due, of, have right to, have title to, have claim to, be entitled to, have a claim upon, belong to, deserve, merit, be worthy of, richly deserve, demand, claim, call upon for, come upon for, appeal to for, revendicate, reclaim, exact, insist on, insist upon, challenge, take one's stand, make a point of, require, lay claim to, assert, assume, arrogate, make good, substantiate, vindicate a claim, vindicate a right, fit for, qualify for, make out a case, give a right, confer a right, entitle, authorize, sanctify, legalize, ordain, prescribe, allot, give every one his due, pay one's dues, have one's due, have one's rights, use a right, assert, enforce, put in force, lay under contribution.