Enforce

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfoɹs/

Definitions

1. To activate and ensure the observance of rules, laws, or regulations through authoritative measures, thus compelling adherence and making standards effective
2. To ensure adherence to established laws or rules by applying authority or force and thereby making those requirements effective
3. To require compliance with laws or rules by applying authority or sanctions

Etymology: The English verb "enforce" is built on the Latin adjective "fortis," meaning "strong," which also gave English "fort," "fortify," and "fortitude." The chain runs through Late Latin "infortiāre," a verb meaning "to strengthen," formed by attaching the prefix "in-" to "fortis." Its literal sense was therefore physical or forceful: making something stronger, or pressing something into place with force. The word passed into Old French as "enforcier," and it reached Middle English as "enforcen," carrying that sense of applying strength. Over time the idea of force was directed at people and their conduct, so that to enforce a law came to mean compelling people to obey it. The same root that describes a stone wall thus ended up describing the power that holds a society's rules in place.

Synonyms: implement, execute, administer

Antonyms: neglect, ignore