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enforce

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To enforce is described as to compel someone to abide by a rule, law or order.

(verb)

When the police compel you to obey speed limits or else get a ticket, this is an example of a situation where the police enforce the law.

See enforce in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb enforced, enforcing

to give force to; urge: to enforce an argument by analogies
to bring about or impose by force: to enforce one's will on a child
to compel observance of (a law, etc.)

Origin: ME enforcen < OFr enforcier < en-, in + force, force

Related Forms:

enforceable adjective
enforcement noun
enforcer noun

See enforce in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es

To compel observance of or obedience to: enforce a law.
To impose (a kind of behavior, for example): enforce military discipline.
To give force to; reinforce: “enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell” (Albert C. Baugh).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English enforcen

Origin: , from Old French enforcier, to exert force, compel,

Origin: and from enforcir, to strengthen

Origin: : en-, causative pref.; see en-¹

Origin: + force, strength; see force

Related Forms:

en·forceˈa·bilˌi·ty noun

en·forceˈa·ble adjective

en·forceˈment noun

en·forcˈer noun

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