Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Enforce \En*force"\, n.
Force; strength; power. [Obs.]
A petty enterprise of small enforce. --Milton.
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.
Source : WordNet®
enforce
v 1: ensure observance of laws and rules; "Apply the rules to
everyone"; [syn: {implement}, {apply}] [ant: {exempt}]
2: compel to behave in a certain way; "Social relations impose
courtesy" [syn: {impose}]