enforce

  • 1enforce — en·force vt en·forced, en·forc·ing: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled enforcing the divorce decree Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation U.S. Constitution amend. XIX Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of… …

    Law dictionary

  • 2Enforce — 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… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3enforce — enforce, implement are comparable when they mean to put something into effect or operation. Enforce is used chiefly in reference to laws or statutes. The term suggests the exercise of executive rather than legislative power or the use of the… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 4enforce — [en fôrs′, infôrs′] vt. enforced, enforcing [ME enforcen < OFr enforcier < en , in + force, FORCE] 1. to give force to; urge [to enforce an argument by analogies] 2. to bring about or impose by force [to enforce one s will on a child] 3. to …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Enforce — En*force , n. Force; strength; power. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A petty enterprise of small enforce. Milton. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6enforce — UK US /ɪnˈfɔːs/ US  / ˈfɔːrs/ verb [T] ► LAW to make sure that people obey something such as a law or rule: »Regulations do not mean anything unless they are enforced. »The bar had a lawsuit filed against it for not enforcing the smoking ban. ►… …

    Financial and business terms

  • 7Enforce — En*force, v. i. 1. To attempt by force. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. To prove; to evince. [R.] Hooker. [1913 Webster] 3. To strengthen; to grow strong. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 8enforce — early 14c., to drive by physical force; mid 14c., make an effort; strengthen a place; compel, from O.Fr. enforcier or from EN (Cf. en ) (1) make, put in + FORCE (Cf. force). Related: Enforced; enforcing …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 9enforce — is the correct spelling, not inforce (which however survives in reinforce). Its typical grammatical objects are such things as a law or rule, a ban, a policy, a person s wish, etc. The derived adjective is enforceable …

    Modern English usage

  • 10enforce — [v] put a rule, plan in force accomplish, administer, administrate, apply, carry out, coerce, commandeer, compel, constrain, crack down, demand, dictate, discharge, dragoon, drive, effect, egg on*, emphasize, exact, execute, exert, expect, extort …

    New thesaurus