Inforce

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic spelling of enforce, meaning to compel someone to do something or to bring about an outcome by force
2. Old form of a verb meaning to push through by strength or authority, making a person or thing comply
3. Obsolete variant describing the act of compelling or driving a result through pressure or necessity

Etymology: "Inforce" is simply an older spelling of "enforce," and the history behind both forms runs through Old French and a Late Latin verb built around the idea of strength. The Late Latin "infortiāre" combined the prefix "in-" with "fortis," meaning "strong," so its core sense was to make strong or to reinforce. That verb passed into Old French as "enforcier," and Middle English took it up as "enforcen," bringing the notion of strengthening into English. The word's meaning follows that original idea of putting strength behind something. To enforce a rule or law is to give it force, making it hold in practice rather than existing only on paper. The spelling "inforce" survived for a time in English before the prefix settled into the form we use now, which keeps the same Latin "in-" as in the earlier version.

Synonyms: enforce, impose, compel

Antonyms: waive, relax