a. Obs. [f. ENFORCE v. + -IVE.]
1. a. Tending to enforce. b. Urgent, forcible.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, 83 b. With these and such like inforciue arguments, the harts of his souldiors were greatly incouraged.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, VIII. 212/109. The Eagle … who seisd in her repaire A sucking hinde calfe; which she trust, in her enforciue seeres. Ibid., X. 128/134. Why stirre ye thus so late? Sustaine we such enforciue cause?
1693. Beverley, True St. Gospel Truth, 6. Those Attributes of God, that are most enforcive of a gracious Answer.
2. As quasi-sb. (nonce-use), after the analogy of motive: A means of compelling.
1686. A. Horneck, Crucified Jesus (1695), 373. If these Motives cannot prevail, God hath Enforcives which shall.
Hence † Enforcively adv., by compulsion.
1880. Webster cites Marston.
