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enforce

[en-fawrs, -fohrs]
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verb (used with object), en·forced, en·forc·ing.
  1. to put or keep in force; compel obedience to: to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
  2. to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
  3. to impose (a course of action) upon a person: The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
  4. to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force: to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
  5. to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon: He enforced his argument by adding details.

Origin of enforce

1275–1325; Middle English enforcen < Anglo-French enforcer, Old French enforcier, enforc(ir), equivalent to en- en-1 + forci(e)r to force
Related formsen·force·a·ble, adjectiveen·force·a·bil·i·ty, nounen·forc·ed·ly [en-fawr-sid-lee, -fohr-] /ɛnˈfɔr sɪd li, -ˈfoʊr-/, adverben·forc·er, nounen·forc·ive, adjectivehalf-en·forced, adjectivenon·en·force·a·ble, adjectivenon·en·forced, adjectivenon·en·for·ced·ly, adverbnon·en·forc·ing, adjectivepre·en·force, verb (used with object), pre·en·forced, pre·en·forc·ing.qua·si-en·forced, adjectiveun·en·force·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·en·force·a·ble, adjectiveun·en·forced, adjectiveun·en·forc·ed·ly, adverbwell-en·forced, adjective

Synonyms

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1. administer, impose, execute, apply.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unenforced

Historical Examples

  • But from hour to hour he lingered upon his unenforced resolve.

    A Chance Acquaintance

    W. D. Howells

  • Statute books are heavily cumbered with laws that are unenforced because public opinion goes counter to them.

  • On the other hand, the inner sanction, unenforced by any objective form of obligation, has won some big victories.

    The Bible and Life

    Edwin Holt Hughes

  • The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

    Villa Elsa

    Stuart Henry

British Dictionary definitions for unenforced

unenforced

adjective
  1. (of a law, decision, etc) not having been imposed or enforced

enforce

verb (tr)
  1. to ensure observance of or obedience to (a law, decision, etc)
  2. to impose (obedience, loyalty, etc) by or as by force
  3. to emphasize or reinforce (an argument, demand, etc)
Derived Formsenforceable, adjectiveenforceability, nounenforcedly (ɪnˈfɔːsɪdlɪ), adverbenforcement, nounenforcer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unenforced

enforce

v.

early 14c., "to drive by physical force;" mid-14c., "make an effort; strengthen a place; compel," from Old French enforcier or from en- (1) "make, put in" + force. Related: Enforced; enforcing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper