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A sudden depression of the vital forces of the entire body, or of a port of it, marking some profound impression produced upon the nervous system, as by severe injury, overpowering emotion, or the like.

To let fly, or cause to be driven, with force, as an arrow or a bullet; -- followed by a word denoting the missile, as an object. If you please To shoot an arrow that self way. Shak.

llet; specifically, whatever is discharged as a projectile from firearms or cannon by the force of an explosive.

which it is most easy to carry a heavy burden; -- often used in the plural. Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore The gates of Azza. Milton. Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair. Dryden.

two pieces of metal by welding. (f) To cause to become silent by authority, argument, or force.

don. Shak. Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade, Then let example be obeyed. Granville.

in passing through a crevice. O'er his head the flying spear Sang innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.

Having simplicity of action; especially (Mach.), acting or exerting force during strokes in one direction only; -- said of a reciprocating engine, pump, etc.

To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west. I sink in deep mire. Ps. lxix. 2.

To shut with force and a loud noise; to bang; as, he slammed the door.

to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet. They bathe in summer, and in winter slide. Waller.

whirled rapidly round until, by loosing one end, the missile is let fly with centrifugal force.

A forced or affected smile; a simper. The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered. Sir W. Scott.

air, chiefly through the nose, audibly and violently, by a kind of involuntary convulsive force, occasioned by irritation of the inner membrane of the nose. Not to be sneezed at, not to be despised or contemned; not to be treated lightly. [Colloq.] "He had to do with old women who were not to be sneezed at." Prof. Wils…

To force the air with violence through the nose, so as to make a noise, as do high-spirited horsed in prancing and play. Fairfax.

class of sonant elements as distinguished from the surd, and considered as involving less force in utterance; as, b, d, g, z, v, etc., in contrast with p, t, k, s, f, etc. Soft clam (Zoöl.), the common or long clam (Mya arenaria). See Mya. -- Soft coal, bituminous coal, as distinguished from anthracite, or hard, coal.…

longing eye. Milton. Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind. Locke.

rds; to flatter. Good, my lord, soothe him, let him take the fellow. Shak. I've tried the force of every reason on him, Soothed and caressed, been angry, soothed again. Addison.

With a restrained voice or moderate force; in an undertone.

heavy; laid on with force; as, a sound beating.