enforce

== English == === Alternative forms === inforce (obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“strong”). === Pronunciation === (General American) enPR: ĭnfôrsʹ, ĕn-, IPA(key): /ɪnˈfoɹs/, /ɛn-/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪnˈfɔːs/, /ɛn-/ (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) enPR: -fōrsʹ, IPA(key): /-ˈfo(ː)ɹs/ (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA(key): /-ˈfoəs/ Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)s Hyphenation: en‧force === Verb === enforce (third-person singular simple present enforces, present participle enforcing, simple past and past participle enforced) To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force. [from 17th c.] 1929, Chiang Kai-shek, quoted in “Nationalist Notes,” Time, 11 February, 1929,[1] Our task is only half finished. It will be my duty to enforce the decisions of the conference and I hereby pledge myself to that end. To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize. [from 15th c.] (obsolete, transitive) To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc. [14th–18th c.] (obsolete, transitive) To intensify, make stronger, add force to. [14th–18th c.] (obsolete, reflexive) To exert oneself, to try hard. [14th–17th c.] (obsolete) To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force. [from 16th c.] (obsolete) To make or gain by force; to force. (obsolete) To put in motion or action by violence; to drive. (obsolete) To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to energize. (obsolete) To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon. (obsolete) To prove; to evince. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Anagrams === forcené