Force sb.¹

Forms: 3–6 fors, forse, (4 foors, forze), 3– force. [a. F. force (= Pr. forsa, forza, Sp. fuerza, Pg. força, It. forza):—popular L. *fortia, n. of quality f. L. fortis strong.]

  I.  Strength, power.

  † 1.  Physical strength, might, or vigor, as an attribute of living beings (occas. of liquor). Rarely in pl. (= F. forces). Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7243 (Cott.).

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3598. Þouȝh he hade fors · of foure swiche oþer.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 1006. And now vs failis all oure force · & oure flesch waykis.

1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 189.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 194. Allowe him to the number of foure hundred pickt and chosen men, hugest in stature, and fullest of force, to be the guard of his person, and the defenders of his life.

1610.  Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, 22. Their Beere is of that force, and so mightie, that it serueth them in steade of meate, drinke, fire, and apparrell, which they learne of their neighbour Drinktalians to brew.

1611.  Bible, Deut. xxxiv. 7. And Moses was an hundred and twentie yeeres olde when he died: his eye was not dimme, nor his naturall force abated.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 249.

1715.  Pope, Iliad, iii. 89.

1816.  Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 245. No character on classical record in this way has ever equalled him; for the great hero of antiquity, in the thieving line, was eminent by his physical forces.

  † b.  Of force: full of strength, vigorous. Obs.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 75. The Wyllowes must be holpen with often watringes, that the nature of the tree may be of force [ut natura ligni vigeat].

  c.  † With (one’s) force: with energy, with exertion of one’s strength. With all one’s force: putting forth all one’s strength.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 3036. ‘Leggeþ on, Lordes,’ said he, ‘wyþ force & smyteþ strokes smerte.’

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 2897.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 829.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., xxxiii. 80 b. He leapt into his owne boate, which was harde by the ships side with certaine of his Marriners and rowing with force tooke two of the Pledges.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1677), 95. They double and turn shorter than they, which is displeasant to the Hounds; for it is troublesome for them to turn often, delighting more in an end-way-chase, running with all their force.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 86. Take this goff-stick, and grasp it thus, and ride along the horse-course, and strike the ball with it with all thy force, until the palm of thy hand and thy whole body beome moist with perspiration, when the medicine will penetrate into thy hand, and pervade thy whole body.

  † d.  To make great force: to exert oneself. To do one’s force: to do one’s utmost. Obs.

c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6182.

  2.  As an attribute of physical action or movement: Strength, impetus, violence, or intensity of effect.

c. 1320.  Sir Beues, 3405 (MS. A.).

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 2451.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., xxix. 73 b. The tackling with the other furniture of the Shippes, with the great force of the winde, made such a terrible noyse.

1607.  Rowlands, Famous Hist., 35.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. ix. 247. The Sea falls with such force on the shore, that it is impossible to come near it with Boat or Canoa.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 197. By the force and strength of the Wedge, the whole Drill-bench is drawn down and fastned athwart the Cheeks of the Lathe.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 67. Certain it is that their legs alone are formed for this arduous employment, the hinder being rather longer than the former, and bending in such a manner that, when they descend upon them, they break the force of the fall.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 80. The force of the strongest and sharpest tools had been tried without effect.

1787.  Burns, Fragm. Ode, iii.

1812–6.  J. Smith, The Panorama of Science and Art, I. 347. The arch of a bridge is often an excellent station for observing the force of a stream; because the sides are there regular, and the intermediate space may be correctly measured.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Force of wind, now described by numbers, 0 being calm, 12 the heaviest gale.

  † b.  said of the violent onset of combatants in battle. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7759 (Cott.).

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 429.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lix. 206. The forse of the paynyms was so gret that at length they coude not abyde it.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., lxxix. 162. Heere as it appeared, was all the force of the battaile.

  † c.  phr. Within one’s force: within the range of his attack or defence. (Cf. DINT sb. 2 d.)

1680.  Otway, Orphan, I. ii.

  † d.  Violence or ‘stress’ of weather. In the force of weather: exposed to the brunt of its attack. Obs.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, III. viii. § 4. 90. A creeke, which is a good harbour for ships, the force of weather being borne off by the head-Land and Isle.

c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 215 (1810), 223. A high rock, called Crocken-Torr, where the parliament for stannary causes is kept; where is a table and seats of moorstone, hewn out of the rocks, lying in the force of all weather, no house or refuge being near it.

  3.  Power or might (of a ruler, realm, or the like); esp. military strength or power.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 3685.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 55.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, viii. 13.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. i. 76.

1756.  Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 20. In this expedition, draining half Asia of its inhabitants, he led an army of about two millions to be slaughtered, and wasted, by a thousand fatal accidents, in the same place where his predecessors had before by a similar madness consumed the flower of so many kingdoms, and wasted the force of so extensive an empire. Ibid. (1796), Regic. Peace, ii. ibid., VIII. 245. They observed that France not only lost ground herself, but, through the languor and unsteadiness of her pursuits, and from her aiming through commerce at naval force which she never could attain without losing more on one side than she could gain on the other, that three great powers, each of them (as military states) capable of balancing her, had grown up on the continent.

1888.  T. Symonds, What Our Navy Should Be, in Fortn. Rev., XLIV. 1 Nov., 564. Now, when our wealth, our colonial empire, and our necessities have grown tenfold, our politicians are content with a navy in my opinion actually inferior in fighting force to that of France.

  b.  In early use, the strength (of a fortress, defensive work, etc.). Subsequently, the fighting strength (of a ship), as measured by number of guns or men. † Of (good) force: (well) armed or fortified.

1577–87.  Harrison, England, I. xii. At this Poulruan is a tower of force, marching against the tower on Fawy side.

1578.  T. Nicholas, trans. Conq. W. India (1596), 102. Certifie him openly of the estate and force of the said Ships, because that afterwardes they should not lay any fault to his charge.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy. Turkie, I. vii. 7. A briefe rehearse of the foundation, force, and situation of the citie of Alger, wyth the manner, religion, and apparrell of the inhabitantants thereof.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 210. The towne now being, is not worth our description; the walles neither faire nor of force; the haven decayed, when at best but serving for gallies.

1669.  Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 7. The Castle … hath but four Guns, and is of no force.

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. iii. 46. The Dutch have a vast Trade over all the West Indies, sending from Holland Ships of good force laden with European goods, whereby they make very profitable returns.

1779.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 183. Paul Jones with several ships of force and troops on board are now on the coast.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Force.… Also, the force of each ship stated agreeably to the old usage in the navy, according to the number of guns actually carried.

  † c.  With force: with, or by the employment of, military strength or numbers. Cf. 5 b. Sometimes app. = in force (see 17). Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 3366.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xxvii. 279. And whan the worthi men of the Contree hadden perceyved this sotylle falshod of this Gatholonabes, thei assembled hem with force, and assayleden his Castelle, and slowen him, and destroyden alle the fair places, and alle the nobletees of that Paradys.

c. 1435.  Torrent of Portugal, 2207.

1548.  Hall Chron., Hen. VI. (an. 6), 106. The Frenchmen (by reason of their great nombre) thinking the victory to be in their handes, egerly like Lions set on the Englishemen, whiche with greate force, them receiued and manfully defended. Ibid., Edw. IV. (an. 2), 191. To recouer suche Castles and fortresses, as his enemies there held, and with force defended.

[1884.  Graphic, 21 June, 595/2. The numerous private members … came down with such force that a count out was plainly impossible.]

  4.  concr. A body of armed men, an army. In pl. the troops or soldiers composing the fighting strength of a kingdom or of a commander in the field.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 632.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. IV. (an. 1), 13 b. The duke of Exceter and his company seyng the force of the townes men more & more encreace, fled out of the backeside entendyng to repaire to the armie, whiche they found dispersed and retired.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 109. Looke on my Forces with a gracious eye.

1611.  Bible, 1 Macc. xii. 42. Now when Tryphon saw that Ionathan came with so great a force, hee durst not stretch his hande against him.

1727.  Swift, Gulliver, II. vi. 149. The Valour and Atchievements of our Forces by Sea and Land.

1796.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 422. A naval force is a very unsure defence.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 575. The only standing force should be the militia.

1851.  Dixon, W. Penn, xiv. (1872), 119. Sir William Springett, of Darling, in Sussex, one of the leaders of the Parliamentary forces during the first years of the civil war.

1874.  Stubbs, The Constitutional History of England (1875), II. xiv. 14–5. A force of seven thousand men landed in Suffolk in November 1215.

  transf.  1841.  Macaulay, in Trevelyan, Life (1876) II. ix. 147. If you add together the mass which opposed the late Government on the Education question, the mass which opposed Sir James Graham’s Education clauses last year, and the mass which is crying out for repeal in Ireland, you get something like a notion of the force which will be arrayed against a Bill for paying the Irish Catholic clergy.

  b.  A body of police; the whole body of police on service in a town or district; often absol. the force = policemen collectively.

1851.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 16. One boy, I was told, vowed vengeance against a member of the force, and for six months never allowed the man to escape his notice.

1861.  Miss Braddon, Trail Serpent, IV. vi. 226. I was nobody in the Gardenford force; and I was less than nobody at Slopperton, so get into that house at the Black Mill I couldn’t.

1875.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, VII. vi. 259. A woman will either take your side against the customs of the little world around, or she will take the side of custom against you. If she loves you deeply, and if there is some visible result of your labours in fame and money, she may possibly do the first, and then she will protect your tranquillity better than a force of policemen, and give you a delightful sense of reconciliation with all humanity; but many of her most powerful instincts tend the other way.

  † c.  ? A fort. Obs. rare^–1.

1538.  Leland Itin. (1711), III. 15. About a Myle by West of Penare is a Force nere the shore.

  5.  Physical strength or power exeited upon an object; esp. the use of physical strength to constrain the action of persons; violence or physical coercion. f To make force: to use violence to.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, Comm. Cant., 497. Lord .i. suffire force [vim patior], that is, violence of sekenes abouen my myght.

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. xix. 9. And foors thei maden [L. vim faciebant] to Loth moost hidowsly.

1413.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xii. 63. Force is nouther ryght ne reson.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., ii. 7 b. He himselfe with certaine others, went to landward without anye weapons, deeming verely that those blacke men meant him no harme, nor would offer anye force.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 645.

1687.  Boyle, Martyrd. Theodora, i. (1703), 6. Though I exceedingly approve so triumphant a Religion, yet I confess to you, that I do not like the waies that the President takes to propagate it: such cruel methods being apt to make the world suspect, that our best Argument is Force.

1789.  Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiii. § 2. Force can accomplish many things which would be beyond the reach of cunning.

1834.  H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks., p. lxxxii. Nothing will justify force while any other means remain untried.

1889.  A. Lang, Prince Prigio, ii. 10. And when the prince, after having his ears boxed, said that ‘force was no argument,’ the king went away in a rage.

  b.  esp. in phr. by force = by employing violence, by violent means, also † under compulsion. † Formerly also through, with, of force; also, par force, by perforce, force perforce (see PERFORCE). Also, † by or with fine force, a-force fine: see FINE a.³ Often implying the use of armed force or strength of numbers: cf. 3 c.

c. 1320.  The Seuyn Sages (W.), 487.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XII. 523.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 972. Þanne þay asayllede Scot Gwylmer & toke him a-force fyne.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, II. xi. The thynge which is promysed by force & for drede is not to be hold.

c. 1500.  Lancelot, 2701.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., X. i. 210. That Maine, which by maine force Warwicke did winne.

1611.  Bible, John vi. 15. When Iesus therefore perceiued that they would come and take him by force, to make him a King, hee departed againe into a mountaine, himselfe alone.

1701.  De Foe, True-born Eng., 40.

1754.  Hume, Hist. Eng. (1812), I. iii. 163. One of his train being refused entrance to a lodging which had been assigned him, attempted to make his way by force, and in the contest he wounded the master of the house.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 241, Laws, II. Ath. The common people are ridiculous in imagining that they know what is in proper harmony and rhythm, and what is not, when they can only be made to sing and step in rhythm by sheer force; they never consider that they do not know what whey are about.

  c.  spec. in Law: Unlawful violence offered to persons or things. By force and arms: translation of Law L. vi et armis. A force: a particular act or instance of unlawful violence.

c. 1480.  Littleton, Tenures, II. xi. Il defendera forsque tort & force [1538, transl. he … shal defend but the wrong and the force]. Ibid., II. xii. (end). Le tenaunt … luy forstalla le voye ouesque force & armys.

1594.  West, 2nd Pt. Symbol., § 65. Force is either simple or mixt.

1619.  Dalton, Country Just., 196. Also women and children may commit a force, may commit larceny, and may be bound to the peace, as breakers of the peace.

1628.  Coke, On Litt., § 240. 161 b. Force, vis, in the Common Law is most commonly taken in ill part, and taken for unlawful violence.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. viii. 119. This distinction of private wrongs, into injuries with and without force, we shall find to run through all the variety of which we are now to treat.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 102. Where a person is prevented from barring an estate tail by force and management, the Court of Chancery will compel the parties to act as if the recovery had been suffered.

1826.  Act 7 Geo. IV., c. 64 § 20. That no Judgment … shall be stayed or reversed … for the Omission … of the Words ‘with Force and Arms.’

1842.  Tennyson, E. Morris, 131.

  † d.  In non-material sense: Constraint or compulsion exerted upon a person. Also, a force, as to put a force upon: to put compulsion or constraint upon, to constrain; to strain or wrest the meaning of. To be upon the force: ? to act under self-constraint and against one’s natural impulses. Under a force: under compulsion. Obs.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 141. Godwyne … swore þat he didde nevere suche þinges, bot constreyned by þe force of kyng Harold.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 261. The monie which you sent vs, uppon the force of our commaundement.

1662.  Sir A. Mervyn, Speech on Irish Affairs (13 Feb.), 4. We come not to Criminate, or to force a Ball into the Dedan, but if any Brick-wall expressions happen, that cannot be designed other wise, it is rather a force upon us.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 1173.

1681.  Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. 252. In many Places of the Country, Men were chosen by Force and Threats … upon which Reasons he concludes that it was no Parliament, since it was under a Force, and so might be annulled.

1690.  Wolsely, in Lond. Gaz., No. 2536/2. It was a very unfortunate Force, which the Soldiers, falling to Plunder, put upon me, to burn the Town, for there was in it as much Provision as would have served this Garrison six Months.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 411.

1707.  Norris, Treat. Humility, v. 203. A Man can’t be always upon the force, the Actor will sometimes tire, and the Vizard will ever now and then drop.

1729.  Butler, Serm., xiii. Wks. 1874, II. 173. They may all be understood to be implied in these words of our Saviour, without putting any force upon them: for he is speaking of the love of God and our neighbour, as containing the whole of piety and virtue.

1774.  J. Bryant, A New System; or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology, I. 136. The whole is effected with a great strain and force upon history before he [Bochart] brings matters to a seeming coincidence.

1805.  K. White, Lett., 19 Dec. While I am here, I am wretched; I cannot read, the slightest application makes me faint; I have very little society, and that is quite a force upon my friends.

  6.  Mental or moral strength. Now only (influenced by sense 2), power of vigorous and effective action, or of overcoming resistance. In early use also, power of endurance or resistance, fortitude.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., 10. Þey erre with-owtten charyte and vertue and force of sawle to stand agayne all ill styrrynges.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), II. viii. 106. Force is an other vertue by the whiche a man vndertaketh to do or suffre for the loue of god these thynges stronge & harde.

1534.  Whittington, The Thre Bookes of Tullyes Offyces, I. (1540), 3. He can not be acompted a man of force that iudgeth payne and grefe to be moste mysery.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 26. Bend the powers of your spirite, and the force of your minde, that in this blustering blast of aduersitie, wee may haue some triall of your constancie.

1679.  Penn, Addr. Prot., II. iv. (1692), 124. What before we were Unable, this gives us Force to do.

1711.  Dennis, Refl. Ess. Crit., 1. He discovers in every Page a Sufficiency that is far beyond his little Ability; and hath rashly undertaken a Task which is infinitely above his Force; a Task that is only fit for the Author, with the just Encomium of whose Essay my Lord Roscommon begins his own.

1871.  R. H. Hutton, Ess., II. 322. Real men of any force have a free sphere of their own, influenced, but in no way determined, by the social or circumstantial influences which hem them round; and to encumber the principal characters with too great a pressure of subsidiary influences whether of one kind or another is almost inevitably to cramp the design and destroy the freedom of the life portrayed.

1876.  Trevelyan, Macaulay, I. i. 9. There was another son of John Macaulay who in force and elevation of character stood out among his brothers, and who was destined to make for himself no ordinary career.

  7.  Of things (in non-material or moral relations): Power to influence, affect, or control (esp. men in their actions, sentiments, etc.). To have force (to do): to avail.

1582.  Lyly, in T. Watson, Centurie of Loue (Arb.), 29. You may imagine that my stomake is rather cloyed, then quesie, and therfore mine appetite of lesse force then mine affection.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. ii. § 4 (1873), 14. If it [learning] mislead by disproportion or dissimilitude of examples, it teacheth men the force of circumstances, the errors of comparisons, and all the cautions of application; so that in all these it doth rectify more effectually than it can pervert.

1713.  Addison, Cato, IV. ii. Let not her cries or tears have force to move you.

1751.  Jortin, Serm. (1771), IV. vi. 117. Favourable allowances are to be made for the prejudices of good persons, for such prejudices as arise from the prevailing force of education, from a modest distrust of their own understanding, from the example and authority of those of whose abilities and integrity they have a high opinion.

1816.  Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 276. The force of habit is certainly very strong, and prejudices the mind throughout.

1821.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. The Old Benchers of the Inner Temple. Yet S. was thought by some of the greatest men of his time a fit person to be consulted, not alone in matters pertaining to the law, but in the ordinary niceties and embarrassments of conduct—from force of manner entirely.

1845.  Disraeli, Sybil, VI. iii. I never heard that moral force won the battle of Waterloo.

1890.  F. W. Robinson, Very strange Fam., 2. The force of circumstances had thrust me upon him.

  b.  Peculiar power resident in a thing to produce special effects; virtue, efficacy.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 69.

1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 346.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 34, 25 June, ¶ 4. Beauty loses its Force, if not accompanied with Modesty.

  c.  esp. Power to convince or persuade the reason or judgment; convincing or appealing power. Often in phr. of (great, etc.) force; † formerly also of force simply.

1551.  T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 36. If thei will make this suche an argument, as thei seme to saie it is, then this that foloweth, is of as good force, for in all thynges it is like.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. i. 157. Those occasions, Vnckle, were of force.

1685.  Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., Matt. xvi. 28. Nor is Dr. H. his reason against it from the former verse of any force.

1729.  Butler, Serm., Pref. Wks. 1874, II. 13. The force of this conviction is felt by almost every one.

1748.  J. Mason, Elocut., 31. If you would acquire a just Pronunciation in Reading you must not only take in the full Sense, but enter into the Spirit of your Author: For you can never convey the Force and Fulness of his Ideas to another till you feel them yourself.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 514. It was only an agreement between the husbands, which could by no means bind the inheritance of the two wives; for the argument of long enjoyment was of no force, unless it had been originally the agreement of the wives.

1847.  Grote, Greece, II. l. (1862), IV. 341. In both these two reasons there is force; and both touch the sore point of the Athenian empire.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 23. The subject of the Test Act the courtiers appear to have carefully avoided. They harangued, however, with some force on the great superiority of a regular army to a militia.

  d.  Of discourse, style, artistic creations, etc.: Strength or vividness of effect.

1834.  H. Rogers, Introd. Burke’s Wks., p. lxxxv. The story of Diogenes banished from Sinope, with which it commences, is most felicitously applied, and the passage already quoted, in which he justifies his own consistency, is full of force and splendour.

1863.  Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., vi. 152. Slender comes out in this play with extraordinary force.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., III. 24/1. If a window is placed in a very sunny situation, where it is intended to act in part as a blind, the introduction of a considerable amount of black … is sometimes desirable, and certainly gives great force to the pattern.

  8.  Of a law, etc.: Binding power, validity.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. x. § 8. When an absolute monarch commandeth his subjects that which seemeth good in his own discretion; hath not his edict the force of a law whether they approve or dislike it?

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 100.

1786.  Burke, W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 177. As if rebellion could exist in a country in which there was no magistracy, and no protection for life or property, and in which the native authority had no force whatever.

1863.  H. Cox, Instit., I. v. 25. In the reign of Henry VIII. the Houses of Parliament abdicated their functions by a statute authorizing the King in Council to make proclamations, which, with certain limitations, should have the force of statutes, and that the authority thus given to the Crown was very shortly afterwards revoked.

  † b.  Of force: of binding power, valid. Obs.

1502.  Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 180. That alle lettres patentes or grauntis by you … be voyde and of noo fors.

1611.  Bible, Heb. ix. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead.

1679.  Penn, Addr. Prot., II. v. (1692), 162–3. In case any one shall conceive the Church to be the Pope, Cardinals, and Bishops anointed by the Pope; he hearing the aforesaid Sentence, will judge, that whatsoever they shall decree, ought to be of Force.

  c.  In force: operative or binding at the time. Also, in full force, † in his force. So to put in force, to enforce; to come into force (also † to take force), to come into operation, take effect.

1491.  Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 10. The foreseid statute … shuld be in his force and virtue fro thens perpetuelly to endure.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 159. By an order Realmes stande, and Lawes take force.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks, 100. The Templars … now tooke occasion to stir vp the people to take vp armes against the Turks, without respect vnto the league yet in force, or of the dangers like thereof to ensue.

1611.  Bible, 2 Esdras ix. 37. Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.

1724.  Act, in Lond. Gaz., No. 6270/7. The Officer … is … to limit the Time … for such Permit … to continue in Force.

1847.  L. Hunt, Jar Honey (1848), 190. In the south, however, this ancient custom still remains in full force; the doors there are yet impassable to lovers.

1856.  Knight, Pop. Hist. Eng., I. xvii. 234. He [Henry] published a charter of liberties in 1101, in which he engaged to put in force the laws of Edward the Confessor, which the Anglo-Saxon race had so earnestly demanded.

1891.  Matthews, in Law Times, XCII. 12 Dec., 96/1. The Penal Servitude Act of last session, which came into force immediately on its passing Aug. 5 last.

  9.  The real import or significance (of a document, statement, or the like); the precise meaning or ‘value’ (of a word, sentence, etc.) as affecting its context or interpretation; the power or value of a symbol or character.

1555.  Bp. Bonner, Profitable Doctrine, M iij. Thyrde is to be considered, the vertue, force, and effecte of the sayd Sacrament.

1690.  Locke, Govt., I. v. § 44. We will allow this at present, to his peculiar way of Writing, and consider the Force of the Text in hand.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 58, 22 Aug., ¶ 2. [We] enter’d very peaceably upon a Subject fit enough for us; which was, the Examination of the Force of the Particle For.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., VII. § 5. I comprehend the Force and Meaning of this Proposition, although I do not frame to my self the particular distinct Idea of a Man.

1741.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. In our language the s between two vowels has the Force or power of a z, and is sometimes put for a z: as in horison, baptising, &c…. An unite before a cypher, has the Force of ten.

1756.  Burke, Subl. & B., III. § 2. Several who make use of that word [proportion], do not always seem to understand very clearly the force of the term, nor to have very distinct ideas concerning the thing itself.

1767.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 353. We are next to consider the force and effect of a fine.

  10.  † a. (Without article prefixed): A large quantity or number, plenty; const. of, which is omitted in quot. 13[?]. (cf. F. force gens and the like). Most force: the greater part (obs.). b. A force: a large number or quantity, a great deal. The force: ? the majority. Obs. exc. dial.

13[?].  Coer de L., 1382.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 11. The men mast fors com till his pess.

1461.  Liber Pluscard., XI. xi. (1877), 397.

c. 1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xlv. 969. The vther, having force of freindis.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 255. Her maid, with a force of crying too, said her master was dead.

1842.  C. Sumner, Lett., 16 Sept., in S. Longfellow, Life of H. W. Longfellow (1891), I. 433. The force of my acquaintance was among lawyers, judges, and politicians, whom you would not care to know.

1876.  Whitby Gloss. ‘There was a foorce o’ folks,’ great numbers were present.

  11.  Physics, etc. Used in various senses developed from the older popular uses, and corresponding to mod. scientific uses of L. vis.

  a.  (= Newton’s vis impressa: cf. sense 5). An influence (measurable with regard to its intensity and determinable with regard to its direction) operating on a body so as to produce an alteration or tendency to alteration of its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line; the intensity of such an influence as a measurable quantity.

  Recent physicists mostly retain the word merely as the name for a measure of change of motion, not as denoting anything objectively existing as a cause.

1665.  Salusbury, trans. Galileus’ Mech., 294. It will … be better, the Force that moveth the Weight upwards perpendicularly … being given, to seek the Force that moveth it along the Elevated Plane.

1686.  Newton, Lett., 20 June, in Brewster, Life, I. 440. In one of my papers writ … above fifteen years ago, the proportion of the forces of the planets from the sun, reciprocally duplicate of their distances from him, is expressed.

1803.  J. Wood, Princ. Mech. (ed. 6), i. 15. Whatever changes, or tends to change, the state of rest or uniform rectilinear motion of a body, is called force.

1866.  Argyll, Reign Law, ii. (ed. 4), 72. All the particles of matter exert an attractive force upon each other.

1866.  B. Stewart, Heat, § 21. The force of gravity, and therefore the absolute pressure towards the earth of the same mass of matter, is somewhat greater in London than at Paris, so that 29.922 inches of mercury in Paris are equal in absolute pressure to 29.914 inches at London.

1876.  Tait, Force, in Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc. (1885), 357. Unit force is thus that force which, whatever be its source, produces unit momentum in unit of time.

  b.  (cf. sense 2). Formerly used for what Leibnitz called vis viva, now known as kinetic energy, and often extended to include potential energy: see ENERGY 6. Conservation of force: see CONSERVATION.

1841.  Penny Cycl., XXI. 307/1. The high tide at Chepstow is accounted for on ‘the principle of the conservation of force.’

1870.  Jevons, Elem. Logic, xxiv. 209. It is now believed by all scientific men that force cannot be created or destroyed by any of the processes of nature.

  c.  The cause of any one of the classes of physical phenomena, e.g., of motion, heat, electricity, etc., conceived as consisting in principle or power inherent in, or coexisting with, matter; such principles or powers regarded generically.

  According to the now prevailing view that all physical changes are modes of motion, force in its generic sense comes to denote the one principle of which the separate forces are specific forms. But sense 11 c is no longer recognized as belonging to the technical language of physics.

[1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., VII. § 9. Alc. Force is that in Bodies which produceth Motion and other sensible Effects.]

1842–3.  Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces (1846), 8. I therefore use the term Force, in reference to them, as meaning that active principle inseparable from matter, which induces its various changes. Ibid., 21. If Heat be a force capable of producing motion, and motion be capable of producing the other modes of force, it necessarily follows, that heat is capable, mediately, of producing them.

1851.  Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 10. But after every possible allowance has been made for the operation of Physical and Chemical forces in the living Organism, there still remain a large number of phenomena, which cannot be in the least explained by them, and which we can only investiage with success, when we regard them as resulting from the agency of forces as distinct from those of Physics and Chemistry, as they are from each other. It is to these phenomena that we give the name of Vital; the forces from whose operation we assume them to result, are termed vital forces; and the properties which we must attribute to the substances manifesting those forces, are termed vital properties.

  d.  transf. and fig. An agency, influence, or source of power likened to a physical force.

1785.  Wilkins, trans. Bhagvat, iii. 49. He seems as if, contrary to his wishes, he was impelled by some secret force.

1868.  Nettleship, Browning, i. 17–8. But the few poems in which men are swayed by love in its widest and most far-reaching sense, deal with the passion as something outside the speaker, whose existence as a force in the world to be used for good or for evil he recognises just as clearly as he recognises any other force or power of brain.

1891.  Law Times, XC. 18 April, 443/1. The Nisi Prius advocate who has a fair knowledge of law is still a great force in the Profession, and we should regret to think that his chances of promotion are less than they were.

  II.  Senses derived from FORCE v.¹

  † 12.  The plunger of a force-pump. Obs.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 9. If the water will not run to your cistern, you may with a force of twenty shillings, and a pipe of eighteen pence the yard, force it from the lowest part of your house to the highest.

1659.  Leak, Water-wks., 34. I have thought good also to add this manner of force-Pump, which is one of the best Inventions, and of which I have seen the experience: That which is here of great advantage, is that the forces do Rise and Fall Perpendicularly in their Barrels.

1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., Force, a kind of Pump often used in the Mines, that throws the Water a good height … ’tis now worn out of Vse.

  13.  The upper die in a metal-stamping machine.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 263/2. The final strokes are given by a ‘force’ cast in brass or some harder alloy in the clean die.

1886.  O. Smith, Flow of Metals in the Drawing-process, in Jrnl. Franklin Inst., CXXII. Nov., 327. The upper die was the cameo, technically the male-die, punch or ‘force,’ as in this process it was generally termed.

  14.  Card-playing. An act of forcing.

1862.  ‘Cavendish,’ Whist (1879), 111. You may assume that he is strong in trumps, and you should take the force willingly.

1886.  Academy, XXIX. 10 April, 251/2. The young player will naturally be startled by the instruction to lead trumps to an adversary who has just refused a force.

  15.  Billiards. A kind of stroke (see quot.); a ‘screw-back.’ U.S.

1881.  H. W. Collender, Mod. Billiards, 23–4. Draw, or Force.—Striking the cue-ball one-half or more below its centre, causing it, if played full at the object-ball, to recoil or return toward the player.

  III.  Phrases (see also senses 1–10)

  16.  By force of: by dint of, by virtue of; by means of (properly with the implication of strength inherent in the means). Also (later), by the force of. [F. à force de.]

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 650/2. The forsaid Archebissbop, and Chamberleyn, the whiche, by force of the submission that the said Robert in hem hath maad, haven ordeyned in the manere and fourme that sueth.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 27. Thei can knowe many thinges be force of clergie that we can no skyle on.

1512.  Act 4 Hen. VIII., c. 10. Fynes had and levyed upon the same Indentures by reason or force of the same Indentures.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy. Turkie, I. ii. 2. The ankers being weied, by force of oares [a force de rames] we went to the yle of If.

1611.  Bible, 2 Macc. x. 24. Now Timotheus whom the Iewes had ouercome before, when he had gathered a great multitude of forraine forces, and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though hee would take Iewrie by force of armes.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Priesthood, iii.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, IV. xii. (1640), 188. Two hundred and fourty Gentlemen of note died by force of the infection.

1697.  trans. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 32. Don Lewis was no sooner come to himself, by the force of Remedies, but his Grief, Rage and Despair, broke out with such Violence, that it was impossible to calm him; and I am perswaded he had not out-lived her whose loss he occasioned, if the desire of Vengeance had not re-animated him.

1756.  Burke, Subl. & B., III. § 2. It is not by the force of long attention and inquiry that we find any object to be beautiful; beauty demands no assistance from our reasoning; even the will is unconcerned; the appearance of beauty as effectually causes some degree of love in us, as the application of ice or fire produces the ideas of heat or cold.

1879.  Daily Tel., 17 June. Being by force of genius no less than by virtue of office at the head of the noble profession to which he belongs.

  17.  In force: a. (see 8 c).

  b.  Mil. Of a host, enemy, etc.: (Collected) in great military strength and large numbers (cf. sense 3). Also, in great force. [Fr. en force.]

c. 1315.  Shoreham, 156.

1793.  Burke, Rem. Pol. Allies, Wks. VII. 119. Manifestoes of this nature are commonly made when the army of some sovereign enters into the enemy’s country in great force, and under the imposing authority of that force employs menaces towards those whom he desires to awe.

1810.  C. James, Milit. Dict. (ed. 3), s.v. Force.… As the enemy were in force behind the mountains.

1836.  Alison, Europe (1849), V. xxxi. § 12. 306. All the efforts of the Republicans were unable to drive back their opponents from the vineyards and wooded heights, which they had occupied in force, and surmounted with a numerous artillery.

1885.  Times (weekly ed.), 23 Jan., 3/2. The enemy is reported to be in force at Metamneh.

  c.  of persons (usu. in great force): In full command of one’s powers, energies, or abilities; esp. Displaying readiness and vivacity in conversation or oratory (colloq.).

1849.  R. G. Levinge, Cromwell Doolan, II. vi. 130. They [young ladies] were in the greatest possible ‘force,’ as Filagree termed it, and full of fun, whilst their mother was, in proportion, cross and pettish.

1851.  Carlyle, Sterling, II. vii. (1872), 142. Latterly Calvert was better, and able to go with us. He was in force again.

1857.  A. H. Elton, Below Surface, vi. (1860), 60. This addition to their riding-party was no less a personage than Sir Eliot Prichard, quite at his ease, and in high force.

1857.  Ld. Houghton, in Life (1891), II. xii. 18. M. Guizot is in great force, and full of political and literary gossip.

  † 18.  Of force: with inf., strong or powerful enough, able to do something. Cf. 1 b, 3 b, 7 c, 8 b.

1597.  Gerard, Herball, II. iv. 182. Lyons Turnep is of force to digest, it is hot and drie in the third degree.

1613.  Sir J. Hayward, Lives 3 Normans, 90. After his death, the inhabitants were of force to expell the strangers.

1632.  Sir R. Le Grys, trans. Velleius Paterculus, Ep. Ded. A 3 b. I did not beleeve there had beene any power, besides that transcendent authoritie, which imposed that task upon me, of force to make me a second time expose my selfe to the view of the world, and under-lye the censure of this Criticall age.

1677.  N. Cox, Gentlem. Recr. (ed. 2), i. 95. Young Hares are neither of force nor capacity to use such subtleties.

  † 19.  Of (or on) force: of necessity, on compulsion, whether one will or no, unavoidably, necessarily, perforce. (Cf. PERFORCE, † AFFORCE.) Also, of fine force (see FINE a. 3), of very force. Obs.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1796. In wele and wo Of force togidre they must go.

1508.  Dunbar, Poems, iv. 95. On forse I man his nyxt pray be.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T., Hist. iv. There laye he close in wayte within the cops whereas Full well he knew that Guardastan of very force must passe.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. v. § 2 (1873), 106. Their inquiries must of force have been of a far other kind than they are.

1645.  Heywood & Rowley, Fort. by Land, II. Wks. 1874, VI. 381. You want a serving-man, since you must hire one on force, as good him as another.

1703.  Rowe, Ulysses, IV. i. 1477. You must of Force delay it.

  † b.  It is (of) force: it is necessary or inevitable. Const. that …, or (for a person) to do. Obs.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, F iv. At the ende he sayd to the holy fader that he myght nomore endure and that it was force that he shold retourne in to the worlde.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 566. For euirilk falt quhilk force is to fulfill.

1563.  Winȝet, trans. Vincent. Lirin., xxviii. Wks. 1890, II. 60. Gif we sal begin to mixt noueltie with antiquitie, vncouth and strange thingis with domestical materis, and prophaniteis with thay thingis, quhilkis ar haly, force it is that this maner spring vp vniuersalie.

c. 1565.  Lindsay of Pitscottie, Chron. Scot. (1728), 104. It was force to the said Sir Patrick Hamilton to light on Foot, and give this Dutch-Man Battle.

1802.  H. Martin, Helen of Glenross, III. 272. Is it of force you must render yourself contemptible?

  † 20.  It is force: it is of consequence or importance; usu. neg. it is no force (also, it maketh no force), it does not matter. So (without verb) what force?, no force = ‘what matter?’, ‘no matter.’ Const. though…, if…, whether..., or relative clause; also absol. and parenthetic. [So in OF.] Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13044 (Cott.).

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 522. ‘A! goode sir, no fors,’ quod I. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., 591. It is no fors how longe that we pleye.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 471. Þofe þou haue forfet, na force, so has fele othire.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 33. He is but a tromper and a iaper, no fors, late us sende for hym.

1450–1530.  Myrr. our Ladye, 325. Illic mense stat trino or terno, no force whether.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron. VII. 575.

1540.  Sir R. Sadler, in St. Papers (1809), I. 25. ‘Well,’ quoth he, ‘it is no force.’

1551.  Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xxvi. Parte that arche line into two partes, equall other vnequall, it maketh no force.

1581.  T. Howell, Deuises (1879), 210.

1612.  J. Davies, Muses Sacrifice, etc. (Grosart), 82/2.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. 19. She puts abroad her Colours, It is Red, White, and Blew; they are Dutch Colours; no force, the worst of Enemies.

  † b.  Const. of or for (a thing) = it does not matter about, no need to care for. Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 20. Of his body was no force, non for him wild murne.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 197. But were she sauf, hit were no fors of me.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, C j a. Bot therof it is no force iff she be hole.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 131/2. It was of lyklyhode the same night, or some other time sone after, excepte it happened a litle afore. No force for the time quod he.

1578.  Whetstone, Promos & Cass., I. II. iv. No force for that, each shyft for one, for Phallax will doo so.

  † 21.  To make (do, give, take, have, let, kythe, set) force: to make account (of), attach importance (to), give heed (to), care (for). Const. of (rarely for, at, by, in); also with infin. or dependent clause, and absol. Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 10286. Lytel fors of hym þou ȝyues.

c. 1325.  English Metrical Homilies, 43.

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 3651. Of here fon · no fors þei ne leten.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 542. ‘I do no fors therof,’ quod he.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems, 160.

c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5392.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. iii. 79. I take no force though I haue bothe their hedes.

1483.  Cron. Englande (1510), R j a. Kynge Edwardes sone set by the Scottes no force.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp Folys (1874), I. 173.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froissart (1812), I. 770. Sir Hugh Caurell made no force at his wordes. Ibid., I. 419. Was chefe ayder to yelde vp the cyte and to become frenche, with the whiche the prince was sore displeased, and set lesse force in y^e men of the churche, in whom before he hadde great trust.

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osorius, 512 b. I make no force whether any medicine be applied.

1664.  Floddan Field, III. 26.

  † 22.  a. Hunting. To hunt (etc.) at force (also of or by force): to run (the game) down with dogs; to hunt in the open with the hounds in full cry. Obs.

  [Cf. OF. courir les cerfs a force (15th c. in Littré; F. par force remains in Ger. parforcejagd, the ordinary term for a formal ‘hunt’ in the English sense.]

1575.  Laneham, Lett. (1871), 13. Too ryde foorth intoo the Chase too hunt the Hart of fors.

1576.  Turberv., Venerie, i. 3. In hunting the Raynedeare at force.

1637.  B. Jonson, Sad Sheph., I. vi. Rob. And hunted yee at force? Mar. In a full cry.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1677), 45. If then afterwards you should run him at force out of a Toil, and at length, and out of sight, you will find the Hounds to give him over quickly. Ibid., 55. The King of Poland makes use of them in his hunting of great Beasts by force.

  † b.  To make force at, to, upon: to rush violently at, attack, assail. Obs.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts 145. The dog … made force vpon him, and the Lyon likewise at the Dogge. Ibid., 158. Vpon signs giuen them to which of the stragling Beastes they ought to make force.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1677), 62. Their manner is when they see themselves every where intercepted, to make force at him with their Horns who first comes unto him, except prevented by Sword or Spear.

  IV.  23. Comb. (? of the sb. or the verb-stem): force-piece (see quot.); force-pipe, the pipe of a force-pump in which the piston works. Also FORCE-PLMP.

1842.  Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., § 2222. When the height of the force pipe is greater or less than the length of the suction pipe, the downward pressure must be greater or less, in the same proportion, than the force which draws the piston up.

1882.  Ogilvie, Force-piece in mining, a piece of timber placed in a level shaft to keep the ground open.