See Also: Vital force (bioenergy, cosmic energy, cosmic energy force, cosmic force, cosmic life energy, cosmic(health)
force(1)(dictionary)
force(2)(dictionary)
G force(medicine)
force(3)(dictionary)
force(4)(dictionary)
force(5)(dictionary)
air force(dictionary)
air force(encyclopedia)
Air Force One(dictionary)

force(4) (iou)



force verb1. ME.
[Old & mod. French forcer, formed as FORCE noun1.]
I. Apply force.
a. verb trans. Compel or oblige (a person, oneself, etc.) to do, into doing, or to or into a course of action; rape (esp. a woman). ME.
D. H. Lawrence She tried to force her mind to the contemplation of the new state of things. R. H. Mottram He lay in bed until hunger forced him to rise. W. C. Williams He was insistent and forced her against her will to get into his car.
b. verb trans. & (now only dial.) intrans. Urge or push to the limits; strain or strive (to do). ME.
c. verb trans. & intrans. Cards. Compel (a player) to trump or reveal the strength of a hand; compel a player to play (a certain card). M18.
d. verb trans. Baseball. Put out (a base runner) by necessitating an advance to the next base when it is not possible to do so safely. Usu. foll. by out. M19.
e. verb intrans. Tennis etc. Use a force stroke. L19.
a. verb trans. Compel or constrain by physical, mental, moral, or circumstantial means; Physics modify by external action. LME.
W. S. Churchill The President's..use of the patronage at his disposal to force the repeal of the Silver Purchase Act. J. Cheever Her wicked sisters had got pregnant in order to force their marriages.
b. verb trans. & intrans. Of a sheepdog: move (sheep) in a certain direction. Austral. & NZ. E20.
verb trans. Cause, bring about, or produce, by effort. M16.
L. van der Post I thought it useless to waste the energies of the whole party forcing a way through. A. MacLean He looked at me, forced a pale smile that was half apology, half recognition.
a. verb trans. Overpower, capture, take by force, (a stronghold, defence, troops); obtain by force, extort. L16.
T. Jefferson The people..forced the prison of Saint Lazare. G. Stein Sometimes it hurt so in him,..it would force some slow tears from him. A. Wilson If he had forced from the public and the critics respect and hearing.
b. verb trans. Make a way by force through, break through, (a pass, enemy lines, etc.); break open (a lock, door, etc.). E17.
J. T. Story I watched her open a locker, using a hatpin to force the lock. R. Rendell It appears she was shot by someone who forced an entry to this house.
c. verb intrans. Make one's way in, out, through, or up, by force. Now rare. M17.
Dryden For Love they force thro' Thickets.
verb trans. Drive, push, or propel violently or against resistance. Chiefly with prepositions or adverbs. L16.
C. S. Forester The lower the brig would settle,..the greater would be the pressure forcing water through the hole. E. Bowen Had she been left alone..life might yet have forced her on to her own feet. N. Mosley I thought I should force her mouth open by pressing my fingers between her teeth.
verb trans. Foll. by on, upon: impose or press (a thing) forcibly on (a person); oblige (a person) to turn or resort to (a thing). E17.
R. Langbridge Her lack of money had forced her back upon the most respectable costume which she had. N. Mitford She gets a hold over people..with her charm and her prestige and then forces her own values on them.
b. Enforce (a law). rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
c. Impose an unnatural or unusual sense or context on (a word, analogy, etc.). M17.
Edward White This is manifestly to force the Scripture.
verb trans. Hasten artificially the growth, development, or maturity of (a plant, farm animal, child, etc.). E17.
Anthony Huxley Hyacinths and other bulbs we force in winter. K. M. E. Murray Regular schooling should not be begun too young, early 'forcing' being..the cause of many boys of promise proving disappointments.
II. Give, have force.
verb trans. Strengthen, reinforce; fortify. LME-E19.
b. Season, spice. LME-L15.
c. verb trans. Clarify (wine) by a short process. M18-M19.
verb trans. & intrans. Be concerned, attach importance to, care (for, of, to do). Usu. in neg. contexts. LME-E17.
Shakespeare Rape of Lucrece I force not argument a straw.
verb intrans. Be of importance; matter, signify. LME-E17.
Phrases: force a card make a person choose a particular card unconsciously in a conjuring trick. force a person's hand compel a person to act prematurely or to adopt a policy unwillingly. force a smile make oneself smile, smile in spite of one's feelings. force down compel (an aircraft) to land. force one's voice strain to get notes beyond one's usual range or a degree of loudness beyond what is easy or natural. force the bidding raise the price rapidly at an auction. force the game (Cricket etc.) run risks to increase the rate of scoring. force the issue compel a decision. force the pace adopt a fast pace in a race in order to tire out one's adversary or adversaries quickly.