enforce
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“‘strong’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Verb
|
Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to enforce (third-person singular simple present enforces, present participle enforcing, simple past and past participle enforced)
- (obsolete, transitive) To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.
- (obsolete, transitive) To intensify, make stronger, add force to.
- (obsolete, reflexive) To exert oneself, to try hard.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- I pray you enforce youreselff at that justis that ye may be beste, for my love.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.
- The police are there to enforce the law.
- To give strength or force to; to affirm
- The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
- Czech: prosadit cs(cs), vynutit cs(cs)
- Finnish: valvoa (1)
- German: durchsetzen (1), bekräftigen
- Spanish: imponer es(es) (1)