What does enforce mean?
Definitions for enforce
ɛnˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrsen·force
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word enforce.
Princeton's WordNet
enforce, implement, applyverb
ensure observance of laws and rules
"Apply the rules to everyone";
enforce, imposeverb
compel to behave in a certain way
"Social relations impose courtesy"
Wiktionary
enforceverb
To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.
enforceverb
To intensify, make stronger, add force to.
enforceverb
To exert oneself, to try hard.
enforceverb
To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize.
The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
enforceverb
To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force.
enforceverb
To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.
The police are there to enforce the law.
Etymology: From enforcier, from infortiare, from in- + fortis.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Enforcenoun
Power; strength.
Etymology: from force.
He now defies thee thrice to single fight,
As a petty enterprise of small enforce. John Milton, Agonistes.To Enforceverb
Etymology: enforcir, French.
The idle stroke, enforcing furious way,
Missing the mark of his misaimed sight,
Did fall to ground. Fairy Queen, b. i. cant.
8. stan. 8.Sker away as swift as stones
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. William Shakespeare, Henry V.Fear gave her wings, and rage enforc’d my flight
Through woods and plains. Fairy Queen, b. ii. cant. 4.If you knew to whom you shew this honour,
I know you would be prouder of the work,
Than customary bounty can enforce you. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Ven.Let them assemble;
And, on a safer judgment, all revoke
Your ignorant election; enforce his pride,
And his old hate to you. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.He prevailed with him, by enforcing the ill consequence of his refusal to take the office, which would be interpreted to his dislike of the court. Edward Hyde.
To avoid all appearance of disaffection, I have taken care to enforce loyalty by an invincible argument. Jonathan Swift.
For competence of life I will allow you,
That lack of means enforce you not to evil. William Shakespeare, H. IV.A just disdain conceived by that queen, that so wicked a rebel should prevail against her, did move and almost enforce her to send over that mighty army. John Davies, on Ireland.
In this point charge him home, that he affects
Tyrannick pow’r: if he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy to the people,
And that the spoil got on the Antiates
Was ne’er distributed. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.To Enforceverb
To prove; to evince; to shew beyond contradiction.
Which laws in such case we must obey, unless there be reason shewed, which may necessarily enforce that the law of reason, or of God, doth enjoin the contrary. Richard Hooker, b. i.
Wikipedia
enforce
Enforcement is the process of ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, rules, standards, or social norms.
ChatGPT
enforce
To enforce means to make sure that rules or laws are obeyed; to execute or apply a rule, decision, or law authoritatively or strictly; or to put or keep in effect. It can also refer to compelling obedience to a policy, guidelines, or standards.
Webster Dictionary
Enforceverb
to put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands
Enforceverb
to make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage
Enforceverb
to put in motion or action by violence; to drive
Enforceverb
to give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests
Enforceverb
to put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws
Enforceverb
to urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon
Enforceverb
to attempt by force
Enforceverb
to prove; to evince
Enforceverb
to strengthen; to grow strong
Enforcenoun
force; strength; power
Etymology: [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L. in) + F. force. See Force.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Enforce
en-fōrs′, v.t. to gain by force: to give force to: to put in force: to give effect to: to urge: (Spens.) to attempt.—adj. Enforce′able.—adv. Enforc′edly, by violence, not by choice.—n. Enforce′ment, act of enforcing: compulsion: a giving effect to: that which enforces. [O. Fr. enforcer—en (=L. in), and force.]
Editors Contribution
enforceverb
A unit of measurement equal to a field officer strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement in authority. 1.) Compel observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation. Cause something to happen by necessity or force.
The Most High enforce the natural law creations against false statues.
Etymology: Reveal Elyon Scriptures
Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on March 1, 2024
British National Corpus
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'enforce' in Verbs Frequency: #720
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of enforce in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of enforce in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of enforce in a Sentence
Private citizens enforce the law. The [state] government has no role in enforcing it, so basically every Texas citizen is now a private attorney general.
There’s plenty of scaremongering around steps broadband providers could take in the absence of neutrality regulation — blocking off certain sites, or charging extra fees to access certain services — but not a ton of reason to think they would do these things, which would antagonize customers, be technically tricky to enforce against sophisticated users, and invite the re-imposition of regulations, what’s more realistic is the introduction of plans that provide higher speeds for specific bandwidth-intensive services.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee:
Well, I think states have to decide, do they follow through with legislation and create a law ? The Supreme Court can't create a law, they can invalidate one, but even then the legislative body and the executive branch has to enable legislation, executives have to sign it, they have to enforce it. The courts can't do that.
The FCC is powerless. All they have is the chairman picking up the phone and begging [internet service providers] to do something good, but theres no way that they could actually enforce it.
It will take work. If we don't keep on our toes and enforce the agreement and use the agreement till its utmost, it will not have the effect that it should have.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for enforce
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"enforce." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/enforce>.
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