hope to spring
Out of despair.
Milton. Force
(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.
2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force conviction on the mind.
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.
To force their monarch and insult the court.
Dryden.
I should have forced thee soon wish other arms.
Milton.
To force a spotless virgin's chastity.
Shak. 4. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm,
as a fortress.
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.
It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay
That scarce the victor forced the steel away.
Dryden.
To force the tyrant from his seat by war.
Sahk.
Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion.
Fuller. 6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce. [Obs.]
What can the church force more?
J. Webster. 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.
High on a mounting wave my head I bore,
Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore.
Dryden. 8. (Whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit of which he has none.
9. To provide with forces; to reënforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison. [Obs.] Shak.
10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]
For me, I force not argument a straw.
Shak. Syn. — To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press; impel.
Force
(Force), v. i. [Obs. in all the senses.]
1. To use violence; to make violent effort; to strive; to endeavor.
Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart.
Spenser.
