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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Enforce, Enfors(e, v. Also: enffors. [ME. enforce (14th c.), OF. enforcier, enforcir. Cf. Inforce v.]

1. tr. To add force or strength to; to intensify, strengthen. Also absol.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 355.
Vith that Douglas com rycht at hand, That than enforsit [E. enforcyt] on thame the cry c1420 Wynt. viii. 5300.
A skyll Thai schawyt till enfors thare till Ib. 5623.
Till Morys off Murrawe In kepyng he that castell gave, That syne enforsyt it grettumly ?1438 Alex. ii. 4376.
Sa sall our wirship doubillit be, And enforsit our bounte 1456 Hay II. 48/25.
Thare fortune enforsis hardynesse Ib. 121/20.
The delyte of thi hert reconfourtis thy nature and enforsis thy vertu in it self c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 73/23.
I haue nocht had the vii … wirtues repugnand and resistand to the vii dedlye synnis to enfors and strenth me aganis thaim c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 383.
All thus enforsit he his fa, & fortifyit in strenth 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 92.
The mair glaidly I sal enfors my stile(b) 1375 Barb. iv. 65.
[Thai] enforcyt the castell swa That thaim thocht na strenth mycht it ta c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 1007.
Of the see the gret tempest … Enforced was so fellonly 1456 Hay II. 47/13.
Force of curage … defendis the honoure of knychthede agayne all vicis, and enforcis vertues 15.. Clar. v. 2041.
His knightheid scho enforcit with hir luike 1570 Leslie 211.
The northland men stude at a syd reddy to enforce the fuitmen

b. To give force or effect to; to urge. 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
The schireff may … enforce his court, but prejudice of their regalitie 1622-6 Bisset I. 286/25.
The dome falser sall first enforce his ressonis; … and syne the defender and his soyttouris sall enforce there ressonis

2. refl. To exert or apply (oneself). a1400 Leg. S. iii. 878.
For-thi enforcit he hym thane, … And for to dissawe hym [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i. 2391.
The duke hes sene the nobill king Enforce him sa in the fechting That [etc.] 1513 Doug. i. iii. 86.
Hys douchter … and hys son … Enforsis thame the Troianys schippis anone To rays Ib. xii. Prol. 236.
The merl, the mavys, … Enforcyng thame quha mycht do clynk it best 1533 Bell. Livy II. 74/3.
Enforceing him to eschape that he suld nocht cum in iugement 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 720/1.
The said umquhile Archibald enforcit himself to brek oure said ward

b. intr. To exert energy; to strive. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 471.
How … syn is mast contrar To mannis weile … , Enforsand ay of blis to mak him baire 1513 Doug. xii. vii. 11.
He wrythis, and enforsys tyll owtdraw The schaft in brokkyn a1568 Scott i. 181.
Frak ferce gallandis for feild gemmis enfors

3. To subject to force; to control or drive by force. c1420 Wynt. viii. 6966.
The king at Melros offt wald ly, … Enfors his marcheris [C. marchis] sa he wald Ib. ix. 41.
Tyl enforce the Marche men, That mychty ware agane thaim than 1562-3 Winȝet I. 3/8.
Ane schip … enforsed be contrarius wyndis betuix maist daingerous sandy beddis

b. To constrain or compel (one) to do something. 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 5.
Being ane man … of sic lyfe that verray enemies … war enforcit to commend and allow him 1622-6 Bisset II. 366/10.
Subdeacones wes enforsed to forsaik thair wyffes 1606 Highland P. III. 87.
I am enforceit to mak the samyn [supplicatioun] be a mediat persone