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
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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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
While we wanted the Canada Supreme Court to hear the issue, its denial of our motion does not mean the issue is resolved and it can still be decided at a later date after we enforce the judgment.
I was here a few days ago repeatedly heckled by this group ... and I told them, 'We're going to enforce our immigration laws,' as the son and grandson of immigrants, I know for a fact that enforcing our immigration laws is not anti-immigrant, it's what sovereign countries do.
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.
So they want to control language, instill fear and enforce rules with specific and implicit threats, and, of course, in some cases, life-altering punishment. … enter(s) the notion of what the anti-racist curriculum really is. It’s largely the brainchild of Ibram Kendi, and it embodies their supposed aim of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our schools.
It is outside the scope of the agency’s federal statute, which is to enforce the federal campaign finance laws.
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Translations for enforce
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
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"enforce." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/enforce>.
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