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force

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force


  8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Force  \Force\,  v.  t.  [See  {Farce}  to  stuff.] 
  To  stuff;  to  lard;  to  farce.  [R.] 
 
  Wit  larded  with  malice,  and  malice  forced  with  wit. 
  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Force  \Force\,  n.  [Of  Scand.  origin;  cf  Icel.  fors,  foss,  Dan. 
  fos.] 
  A  waterfall;  a  cascade.  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  To  see  the  falls  for  force  of  the  river  Kent.  --T. 
  Gray. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Force  \Force\,  n.  [F.  force,  LL  forcia  fortia,  fr  L.  fortis 
  strong.  See  {Fort},  n.] 
  1.  Strength  or  energy  of  body  or  mind;  active  power;  vigor; 
  might  often  an  unusual  degree  of  strength  or  energy; 
  capacity  of  exercising  an  influence  or  producing  an 
  effect;  especially,  power  to  persuade,  or  convince,  or 
  impose  obligation;  pertinency;  validity;  special 
  signification;  as  the  force  of  an  appeal,  an  argument,  a 
  contract,  or  a  term. 
 
  He  was  in  the  full  force  of  the  words  a  good  man. 
  --Macaulay. 
 
  2.  Power  exerted  against  will  or  consent;  compulsory  power; 
  violence;  coercion. 
 
  Which  now  they  hold  by  force,  and  not  by  right 
  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Strength  or  power  for  war;  hence  a  body  of  land  or  naval 
  combatants,  with  their  appurtenances,  ready  for  action  -- 
  an  armament;  troops;  warlike  array;  --  often  in  the 
  plural;  hence  a  body  of  men  prepared  for  action  in  other 
  ways;  as  the  laboring  force  of  a  plantation. 
 
  Is  Lucius  general  of  the  forces?  --Shak. 
 
  4.  (Law) 
  a  Strength  or  power  exercised  without  law,  or  contrary 
  to  law,  upon  persons  or  things  violence. 
  b  Validity;  efficacy.  --Burrill. 
 
  5.  (Physics)  Any  action  between  two  bodies  which  changes,  or 
  tends  to  change,  their  relative  condition  as  to  rest  or 
  motion;  or  more  generally,  which  changes,  or  tends  to 
  change,  any  physical  relation  between  them  whether 
  mechanical,  thermal,  chemical,  electrical,  magnetic,  or  of 
  any  other  kind  as  the  force  of  gravity;  cohesive  force; 
  centrifugal  force. 
 
  {Animal  force}  (Physiol.),  muscular  force  or  energy. 
 
  {Catabiotic  force}  [Gr.  ?  down  (intens.)  +  ?  life.]  (Biol.), 
  the  influence  exerted  by  living  structures  on  adjoining 
  cells,  by  which  the  latter  are  developed  in  harmony  with 
  the  primary  structures. 
 
  {Centrifugal  force},  {Centripetal  force},  {Coercive  force}, 
  etc  See  under  {Centrifugal},  {Centripetal},  etc 
 
  {Composition  of  forces},  {Correlation  of  forces},  etc  See 
  under  {Composition},  {Correlation},  etc 
 
  {Force  and  arms}  [trans.  of  L.  vi  et  armis]  (Law),  an 
  expression  in  old  indictments,  signifying  violence. 
 
  {In  force},  or  {Of  force},  of  unimpaired  efficacy;  valid;  of 
  full  virtue;  not  suspended  or  reversed.  ``A  testament  is 
  of  force  after  men  are  dead.''  --Heb.  ix  17. 
 
  {Metabolic  force}  (Physiol.),  the  influence  which  causes  and 
  controls  the  metabolism  of  the  body. 
 
  {No  force},  no  matter  of  urgency  or  consequence;  no  account; 
  hence  to  do  no  force,  to  make  no  account  of  not  to  heed. 
  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  {Of  force},  of  necessity;  unavoidably;  imperatively.  ``Good 
  reasons  must  of  force,  give  place  to  better.''  --Shak. 
 
  {Plastic  force}  (Physiol.),  the  force  which  presumably  acts 
  in  the  growth  and  repair  of  the  tissues. 
 
  {Vital  force}  (Physiol.),  that  force  or  power  which  is 
  inherent  in  organization;  that  form  of  energy  which  is  the 
  cause  of  the  vital  phenomena  of  the  body,  as  distinguished 
  from  the  physical  forces  generally  known 
 
  Syn:  Strength;  vigor;  might  energy;  stress;  vehemence; 
  violence;  compulsion;  coaction;  constraint;  coercion. 
 
  Usage:  {Force},  {Strength}.  Strength  looks  rather  to  power  as 
  an  inward  capability  or  energy.  Thus  we  speak  of  the 
  strength  of  timber,  bodily  strength,  mental  strength, 
  strength  of  emotion,  etc  Force,  on  the  other  hand, 
  looks  more  to  the  outward;  as  the  force  of 
  gravitation,  force  of  circumstances,  force  of  habit, 
  etc  We  do  indeed,  speak  of  strength  of  will  and 
  force  of  will  but  even  here  the  former  may  lean 
  toward  the  internal  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  the 
  latter  toward  the  outward  expression  of  it  in  action 
  But  though  the  two  words  do  in  a  few  cases  touch  thus 
  closely  on  each  other  there  is  on  the  whole,  a 
  marked  distinction  in  our  use  of  force  and  strength. 
  ``Force  is  the  name  given  in  mechanical  science,  to 
  whatever  produces,  or  can  produce,  motion.''  --Nichol. 
 
  Thy  tears  are  of  no  force  to  mollify  This  flinty 
  man.  --Heywood. 
 
  More  huge  in  strength  than  wise  in  works  he  was 
  --Spenser. 
 
  Adam  and  first  matron  Eve  Had  ended  now  their 
  orisons,  and  found  Strength  added  from  above, 
  new  hope  to  spring  Out  of  despair.  --Milton. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  consient  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  re["e]nforce;  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  2.  To  make  a  difficult  matter  of  anything  to  labor;  to 
  hesitate;  hence  to  force  of  to  make  much  account  of  to 
  regard. 
 
  Your  oath  once  broke,  you  force  not  to  forswear. 
  --Shak. 
 
  I  force  not  of  such  fooleries.  --Camden. 
 
  3.  To  be  of  force,  importance,  or  weight;  to  matter. 
 
  It  is  not  sufficient  to  have  attained  the  name  and 
  dignity  of  a  shepherd,  not  forcing  how  --Udall. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  force 
  n  1:  a  powerful  effect  or  influence:  "the  force  of  his  eloquence 
  easily  persuaded  them" 
  2:  the  physical  influence  that  produces  a  change  in  a  physical 
  quantity;  "force  equals  mass  times  acceleration" 
  3:  physical  energy  or  intensity:  "he  hit  with  all  the  force  he 
  could  muster";  "it  was  destroyed  by  the  strength  of  the 
  gale";  "a  government  has  not  the  vitality  and  forcefulness 
  of  a  living  man"  [syn:  {forcefulness},  {strength}] 
  4:  group  of  people  willing  to  obey  orders  "a  public  force  is 
  necessary  to  give  security  to  the  rights  of  citizens" 
  [syn:  {personnel}] 
  5:  a  unit  that  is  part  of  some  military  service;  "he  sent 
  Caesar  a  force  of  six  thousand  men"  [syn:  {military  unit}, 
  {military  force}] 
  6:  an  act  of  aggression  (as  one  against  a  person  who  resists); 
  "he  may  accomplish  by  craft  in  the  long  run  what  he  cannot 
  do  by  force  and  violence  in  the  short  one"  [syn:  {violence}] 
  7:  one  possessing  or  exercising  power  or  influence  or 
  authority:  "the  mysterious  presence  of  an  evil  power"; 
  "may  the  force  be  with  you";  "the  forces  of  evil"  [syn:  {power}] 
  8:  a  group  of  people  having  the  power  of  effective  action  "he 
  joined  forces  with  a  band  of  adventurers" 
  9:  (of  a  law)  having  legal  validity;  "the  law  is  still  in 
  effect"  [syn:  {effect}] 
  v  1:  to  cause  to  do  through  pressure  or  necessity,  by  physical, 
  moral  or  intellectual  means  :"She  forced  him  to  take  a 
  job  in  the  city"  [syn:  {coerce},  {pressure}] 
  2:  urge  or  force  (a  person)  to  an  action  constrain  or  motivate 
  [syn:  {impel}] 
  3:  move  with  force,  "He  pushed  the  table  into  a  corner";  "She 
  pushed  her  chin  out"  [syn:  {push}]  [ant:  {pull}] 
  4:  impose  or  thrust  urgently,  importunately,  or  inexorably; 
  "She  forced  her  diet  fads  on  him"  [syn:  {thrust}] 
  5:  squeeze  like  a  wedge  into  a  tight  space;  "I  squeezed  myself 
  into  the  corner"  [syn:  {wedge},  {squeeze}] 
  6:  physical  or  metaphorical,  as  in  "She  rammed  her  mind  into 
  focus"  [syn:  {run},  {drive},  {ram}] 
  7:  cause  to  move  along  the  ground  by  pulling;  "draw  a  wagon"; 
  "pull  a  sled"  [syn:  {pull},  {draw}]  [ant:  {push}] 
  8:  do  forcibly;  exert  force;  "Don't  force  it!" 
  9:  take  by  force;  "Storm  the  fort"  [syn:  {storm}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  Force 
 
  A  {dBASE}  dialect  for  {MS-DOS}. 
 
 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  FORCE,  n. 
 
  "Force  is  but  might,"  the  teacher  said  -- 
  "That  definition's  just." 
  The  boy  said  naught  but  through  instead, 
  Remembering  his  pounded  head: 
  "Force  is  not  might  but  must!" 
 
 




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