Also 6–8 in-. [a. OF. enforcement: see ENFORCE v. and -MENT.] The action or process of enforcing.
† 1. The action or process of increasing the strength of anything (esp. an armed force, etc.); concr. a reinforcement. Obs.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., IV. 35. Such a force of Irish Rebels now ready to be shipped … for their assistance and enforcement.
1683. Temple, Mem., Wks. 1731, I. 406. The Prince of Conde was sent in haste out of Flanders, with a great Enforcement.
1762. Acc. of Bks., in Ann. Reg., 250/1. Something equivalent to those enforcements and lowering of sounds which gives such a pleasant variety.
† 2. Energetic activity; an effort. Obs. rare.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), To Rdr. Their bisie inforcement hath kindled in others the like hatred and contempt.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., To Rdr. To accomplishe so haulte an enforcement.
3. The urging a demand, pressing home an argument, representation or statement.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 33. Forcible reasons, enforcements, rebukes, and perswasions.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxxiii. 537. What inforcements … too perswade men?
1635. Austin, Medit., 165. These preach (as St. Iohn, after, did;) using the same manner of enforcement.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 162, ¶ 10. Persuaded the tenants … to entreat his enforcement of their representations.
1861. Smiles, Engineers, II. 160. It cost him many years of arguing, illustration, and enforcement.
1880. E. White, Cert. Relig., 54. How large a space is occupied with the enforcement of this claim.
† 4. The action of bringing force to bear upon, doing violence to, or overcoming by force (a person or thing). Also fig. a strained interpretation (of words). Obs.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1061/1. Where he did so much by batterie & other kinds of inforcement.
1583. Fulke, Defence, Answ. Pref. § 10. 28. I marvel at your bold assertions, and abhor your impudent enforcements.
1597. Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 8. And his enforcement of the Citie Wiues. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 120. And as the Thing, that’s heauy in it selfe, Vpon enforcement, flyes with greatest speede.
5. Constraint, compulsion; a constraining or compelling influence. rare in mod. use.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 19 b. He dremed of his lady for thenforcement of loue.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark 41. The soule … throughe thenforcement of disease had forsaken the bodye.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 57 b. Often tymes the soldiour saieth, his capitaines biddyng was his enforcement.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., III. Wks. (1851), 125. For any enforcement that Artur with all his Chivalry could make.
1820. Keats, Ode to Psyche, 2. O Goddess! hear these tuneless numbers, wrung By sweet enforcement.
a. 1845. Hood, Lamia, vii. 60. I know not what I am—nor how I am, But by thy own enforcement—come to force thee, Being passion-mad.
6. The forcible exaction of a payment, an action, etc.; the enforcing or compelling the fulfilment of (a law, demand, obligation); † concr. a means of enforcing, a ‘sanction.’
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, IV. lxiv. Though hee had then inforcements of expence Both for offence, retaynements, and defence.
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect. (1851), 266. To see the ruine of our Protestation, and the inforcement of a Slavish life.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxi. § 70 (1695), 150. The Rewards and Punishments of another Life, which the Almighty has established as the Enforcements of his Law.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 78. Is it consistent with the divine wisdom to prescribe rules to us, and leave the enforcement of them to the folly of human institutions?
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxv. The occasion seemed to require an enforcement of domestic discipline.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 7 (1882), 150. [The] weakness [of the Charter] in providing no means for the enforcement of its own stipulations.
