# enforce

Pronunciation: US say "in-FORS" /ɪnˈfoɹs/; UK say "in-FAWS" /ɪnˈfɔːs/

## Verb

1. To keep up, impose, or bring a rule, law, or agreement into effect, not necessarily by physical force.
   - Simple: To make sure a rule or law is obeyed.
   - _Local authorities enforce parking regulations across the city center._
   - _The new manager enforced the dress code from his very first day._
2. To give added strength or force to something, such as a claim or point; to affirm or emphasize it.
   - Simple: To make a statement or point stronger.
   - _The lawyer enforced her point with documents drawn from the archive._
   - _Vivid statistics enforce an argument far better than vague assertions._

## Verb

3. To compel or oblige a person or thing; to force them to act. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To force someone to do something.
   - _Hunger enforced the travelers to seek shelter in the abandoned mill._
   - _Tyrants enforce their subjects to surrender both land and livestock._
4. To strengthen a castle, town, or similar place with extra troops, fortifications, or defenses. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make a castle or town stronger by adding soldiers or walls.
   - _The duke enforced the border fortress with two hundred men-at-arms._
   - _Wise commanders enforce every captured stronghold against a counterattack._
5. To intensify something, making it stronger or adding force to it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make something stronger or give it more force.
6. To give force to something; to strengthen, invigorate, or energize it. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make someone or something stronger and full of energy.
   - _Bright music and warm wine enforce the dancers through the long night._
   - _The general's words enforced the weary troops before the final charge._
7. To urge strongly; to press hard; to lay much stress upon something. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To push a point hard or keep urging something strongly.
8. To make or gain something by force; to force a result into being. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To get or make something by using force.
   - _The invaders enforce an entrance through the broken wall._
   - _He enforced a confession from the prisoner by cruel means._
9. To put something in motion or action by violence; to drive it forward. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To make something move or act by using force.
   - _The drovers enforce the frightened horses through the narrow pass._
   - _The flood enforced the broken timbers down the swollen river._
10. To exert oneself; to strain or try hard toward some end. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To push yourself hard and make a great effort.
   - _The pilgrims enforce themselves through cold and hunger to reach the shrine._
   - _He enforced himself to stay awake through the long watch._
11. To prove something; to demonstrate or show it clearly through evidence. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To show that something is true.

## Origin

From Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, formed from in- plus fortis ("strong").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/enforce (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).