GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Found 2 definitions
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Force (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forcing (?).] [OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare, fortiare. See Force, n.]
1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as, “masters force slaves to labor”.
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2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, “to force conviction on the mind”.
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3. To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one's will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon.
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To force their monarch and insult the court. Dryden.
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I should have forced thee soon wish other arms. Milton.
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To force a spotless virgin's chastity. Shak.
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4. To obtain, overcome, or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress; as, “to force the castle; to force a lock”.
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5. To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main strength or violence; -- with a following adverb, as along, away, from, into, through, out, etc.
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It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay
That scarce the victor forced the steel away. Dryden.
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To force the tyrant from his seat by war. Sahk.
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Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion. Fuller.
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6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce. [Obs.]
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What can the church force more? J. Webster.
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7. To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge to excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by unnatural effort; as, “to force a conceit or metaphor; to force a laugh; to force fruits.”
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High on a mounting wave my head I bore,
Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore. Dryden.
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8. (Whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit of which he has none.
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9. To provide with forces; to reënforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison. [Obs.] Shak.
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10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]
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For me, I force not argument a straw. Shak.
Syn. -- To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press; impel.
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Forced (?), a. Done or produced with force or great labor, or by extraordinary exertion; hurried; strained; produced by unnatural effort or pressure; as, “a forced style; a forced laugh.”
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Forced draught. See under Draught. -- Forced march (Mil.), a march of one or more days made with all possible speed.
-- For"ced*ly (#), adv. -- For"ced*ness, n.
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