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Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions.

ect. "Shooting wide, do miss the marked scope." Spenser. Your scope is as mine own, So to enforce or quality the laws As to your soul seems good. Shak. The scope of all their pleading against man's authority, is to overthrow such laws and constitutions in the church. Hooker.

tery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest. He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy. Prescett.

he goods of a defendant in chancery were, in the last resort, sequestered and detained to enforce the decrees of the court. And now the profits of a benefice are sequestered to pay the debts of ecclesiastics. Blackstone.

ishing certain ships for the king's service. The attempt made by Charles I. to revive and enforce this tax was resisted by John Hampden, and was one of the causes which led to the death of Charles. It was finally abolished. -- Ship of the line. See under Line. -- Ship pendulum, a pendulum hung amidships to show the e…

A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment. [Obs.] Thy silly thought enforces my spleen. Shak.

te of limitations (Law), a statute assigned a certain time, after which rights can not be enforced by action. -- Statute staple, a bond of record acknowledged before the mayor of the staple, by virtue of which the creditor may, on nonpayment, forthwith have execution against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, a…

shed by stealing; dishonest; as, a thievish practice. Or with a base and biosterous sword enforce A thievish living on the common road. Shak. -- Thiev"ish*ly, adv. -- Thiev"ish*ness, n.

in the church during divine service, to make complaint of any disorderly conduct, and to enforce the observance of the Sabbath. [Local, U.S.]

The doctrine that virtue is founded in utility, or that virtue is defined and enforced by its tendency to promote the highest happiness of the universe. J. S. Mill.

To throw away; to relinquish voluntarily, as a right which one may enforce if he chooses. (b) (O. Eng. Law)

A person (as a member of Parliament) appointed to enforce party discipline, and secure the attendance of the members of a Parliament party at any important session, especially when their votes are needed.

Hence, one who enforces the discipline of a party, and urges the attendance and support of the members on all necessary occasions.

To subject to extortion; to afflict, or oppress, in order to enforce compliance. To wring the widow from her 'customed right. Shak. The merchant adventures have been often wronged and wringed to the quick. Hayward.