enforce. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

enforce

SYLLABICATION:	en·force
PRONUNCIATION:	n-fôrs, -frs
TRANSITIVE VERB:	Inflected forms: en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es 1. To compel observance of or obedience to: enforce a law. 2. To impose (a kind of behavior, for example): enforce military discipline. 3. To give force to; reinforce: “enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell” (Albert C. Baugh).
ETYMOLOGY:	Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, to exert force, compel, and from enforcir, to strengthen : en-, causative pref.; see en–¹ + force, strength; see force.
OTHER FORMS:	en·forcea·bili·ty —NOUN en·forcea·ble —ADJECTIVE en·forcement —NOUN en·forcer —NOUN


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.