v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enforced p. pr. & vb. n. Enforcing ] [ OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L. in) + F. force. See Force. ] 1. To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to enforce obedience to commands. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inward joy enforced my heart to smile. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a passage. “Enforcing furious way.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To put in motion or action by violence; to drive. [ 1913 Webster ]

As swift as stones
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To attempt by force. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To prove; to evince. [ R. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To strengthen; to grow strong. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Force; strength; power. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A petty enterprise of small enforce. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being enforced. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Compelled; forced; not voluntary. “Enforced wrong.” “Enforced smiles.” Shak. -- En*for"ced*ly, adv. Shak. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Cf. OF. enforcement. ] 1. The act of enforcing; compulsion. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that contendeth against these enforcements may easily master or resist them. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Confess 't was hers, and by what rough enforcement
You got it from her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A giving force to; a putting in execution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enforcement of strict military discipline. Palfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which enforces, constraints, gives force, authority, or effect to; constraint; force applied. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rewards and punishment of another life, which the Almighty has established as the enforcements of his law. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who enforces. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be enforced. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to enforce or constrain; compulsive. Marsion. -- En*for"cive*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ Pref. re- + enforce: cf. F. renforcer. ] 1. To strengthen with new force, assistance, material, or support; as, to reenforce an argument; to reenforce a garment; especially, to strengthen with additional troops, as an army or a fort, or with additional ships, as a fleet. [ Written also reinforce. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Psychology) To increase the likelihood that (a specific behavior) will be repeated by giving a reward or punishment to a person or animal; as, to reenforce the students' willingness to study by giving awards for good grades. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Reenforce, v., and cf. Ranforce, Reinforce. ] Something which reenforces or strengthens. Specifically: (a) That part of a cannon near the breech which is thicker than the rest of the piece, so as better to resist the force of the exploding powder. See Illust. of Cannon. (b) An additional thickness of canvas, cloth, or the like, around an eyelet, buttonhole, etc. [ Written also reinforce. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. Concrete having within its mass a system of iron or steel supports, such as bars, rods, or a heavy mesh, to provide increased tensile strength and shear resistance. Same as Ferro-concrete.
Syn. -- reinforced concrete. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. The act of reenforcing, or the state of being reenforced. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which reenforces; additional force; especially, additional troops or force to augment the strength of any army, or ships to strengthen a navy or fleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Psychology) A reward or punishment which is given to a person or animal in order to increase the likelihood that a specific behavior will be repeated. [ PJC ]