English Explanatory Dictionary

enforce

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.
To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize.
To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.
To intensify, make stronger, add force to.
To exert oneself, to try hard.
To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force.
To make or gain by force; to force.
To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to energize.
To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
To prove; to evince.

Pronunciation

ĭnfôrsʹ /ɪnˈfoɹs/ /ɪnˈfɔːs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-enforce.wav -fōrsʹ /-ˈfo(ː)ɹs/ /-ˈfoəs/

Word forms

enforce enforces enforcing enforced inforce

Etymology

From Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“strong”).

Derived words

enforceability enforceable enforcedly enforcement enforcer enforcingly enforcive misenforce nonenforced nonenforcing reenforce re-enforce underenforce unenforced

Translations

Bulgarian: укрепявам Czech: posílit Czech: posilovat Dutch: versterken Finnish: vahvistaa French: renforcer Greek: ισχυροποιώ Hungarian: megerősít Hungarian: megszilárdít Italian: rafforzare Portuguese: reforçar Romanian: întări Spanish: reforzar Swedish: förstärka

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