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.
{Forced draught}. See under {Draught}.
{Forced march} (Mil.), a march of one or more days made with
all possible speed. -- {For"ced*ly}, adv. --
{For"ced*ness}, n.