▪ I. reinforce, n.
(riːɪnˈfɔəs)
[f. the vb.]
† 1. Mil. A reinforcement of troops. Obs. rare—1.
| 1648 Evelyn Diary (1857) III. 29 The general sent to Skippon for a re-inforce of 3000 horse. |
2. A part (or one of two parts) of a gun next the breech, made stronger than the rest in order to resist the explosive force of the powder.
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Cannon, The first reinforce..includes the base ring. Ibid., The second reinforce begins..where the first terminates. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 231/2 On the side of the gun upon the first reinforce, are cast two knobs. 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v., There are generally two in each piece, called the first and second reinforce. 1863 Sat. Rev. 12 Sept. 357 The Parrott guns are of cast-iron, with a wrought-iron reinforce. 1881 Greener Gun 26 Other early guns that were mounted were made with a loop underneath the barrel before the reinforce. |
b. attrib., esp. reinforce ring, a flat ring or moulding round a gun at the points where the reinforces meet or terminate. Also called reinforce band. (Cf. reinforced ppl. a.)
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Cannon, The first reinforce..includes..the vent-astragal, and first reinforce ring. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 230/1 At the end of the first reinforce ring. Ibid. 233/1 Reinforce-astragal and fillets. 1802 James Milit. Dict., Reinforce-ring. There are three in each gun, called the first, second, and third. 1868 Rep. to Govt. U.S. Munitions War 130 A smooth-bore cannon. This gun is constructed on the same principles as the others, with steel re-inforce rings. |
3. Any thing or part added to an object to strengthen it. Also attrib.
| 1869 Boutell Arms & Armour x. 204 A remarkable diversity is seen to have existed between the corresponding reinforces or additional defences of the right and left sides. Ibid., When the shoulders were covered by the reinforce-plates, they were distinguished as pauldrons. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 1636/1 A reinforce or strengthening piece on a fabric at a point of wear, or around a hole or eyelet. 1884 Ibid. Suppl. 235/1 A cup-shaped reinforce inside the head of a cartridge to strengthen it. |
▪ II. reinforce, v.
(riːɪnˈfɔəs)
[f. re- + inforce, enforce v.; cf. re-enforce v. and renforce.]
I. 1. a. trans. To strengthen (a military or naval force) by means of additional men.
| 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 318 Hauing reinforced the point of his armie with Germaine pikes. 1617 Moryson Itin. ii. 204 They neede not reinforce their Companies with the Irish. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. i. 40 Seasonably re-inforcing the Garrison, with divers Gentlemen his particular Servants, and a good number of Souldiers. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 74 Sending two and thirty of her men on board the great ship, to reinforce the men on board. 1849 Alison Hist. Europe V. xxvii. §48. 40 Fresh troops continually came up to reinforce those who were exhausted with fatigue. |
b. To strengthen or increase (a class or party) by fresh additions to the number.
| 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 520 The Tory party..included the whole bench of bishops, and had been reinforced..by several fresh creations. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. §1. 60 The middle class, thus created, was reinforced by the rise of a similar class in our towns. |
c. To furnish with fresh supplies; to add to, increase, the amount of (something).
| 1839 De Quincey Recoll. Lakes Wks. 1862 II. 210 Some subject of hope..must be called in to reinforce the animal fountains of good spirits. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xix. 230 The bears had..destroyed our chances of reinforcing our provisions. |
2. a. To strengthen, make stronger; to furnish with additional support.
| a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 57 Bashfulnesse, and a naturall modesty..might have hindred his progression, had they not been re-inforced by the infusion of Soveraign favour. 1657 Howell Londinop. 17 He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations. a 1676 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. (1677) 47 The Memory..by the return of a like Object again is sometimes revived and reinforced. 1805 Foster Ess. i. ii. I. 20 To reinforce our virtues from the dust of those who first taught them. 1879 W. H. Stone in Grove Dict. Music I. 153/2 Bach uses it frequently, sometimes merely to reinforce the basses. 1897 Rhoscomyl White Rose Arno 86 Pengraig recounted what had been agreed upon; reinforcing the whole with evidence and proof. |
† b. refl. To fix (oneself) more firmly. Obs.—1
| 1652 Sir C. Cotterell tr. Calprenède's Cassandra i. 51 The Prince..reinforc'd himselfe all he could in his Saddle. |
c. To strengthen (some material thing) by an additional support or added thickness.
| 1692 Ray Creation ii. (ed. 2) 119 The side of the Triangle..was reinforced with a Border. 1729 G. Shelvocke Artillery v. 379 These Pipes or Tubes shall be well reinforced with the Sinews of Beasts steeped in Glue. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Canon renforcé, a cannon whose breech is reinforced, i.e. thicker than the calibre. 1772 C. Hutton Bridges 87 They must be well reinforced with proper walls or returns. 1890 Anthony's Photogr. Bull. III. 185 It is advisable..to re-inforce the punch, with one or more thicknesses of cardboard. |
d. Psychol. To strengthen (a response), usu. by repetition of a stimulus, esp. one that is painful or rewarding.
| 1906 C. S. Sherrington Integrative Action Nervous Syst. v. 175 These widely separate reflex-arcs therefore reinforce one another. 1927 G. V. Anrep tr. Pavlov's Conditioned Reflexes vii. 117 The second method consisted in contrasting the single definite conditioned stimulus..with different neighbouring stimuli which were never reinforced. 1951 S. F. Nagel Found. Social Anthropol. iv. 58 To remain effective, however, the conditioning must be ‘reinforced’. 1970 Jrnl. Gen. Psychol. July 3 Bugelski..notes that in the orthodox stimulus-response view of learning based on the reinforcement of an instrumental response, it is essential that the behavior appear first and then be..‘reinforced by the psychologist (or someone) immediately’. 1973 Howard Jrnl. XIII. 281 A points system was used to pay the men for desirable behaviours that would be likely also to be reinforced in life outside the institution. |
3. a. To add to the force or strength of; to make more forcible or cogent.
| 1629 Quarles Argalus & P. ii. Wks. (Grosart) III. 265 Give me leave (my Lord) to reinforce A virgin's suit. 1681 H. More Postscr. Glanvill's Sadducismus 51 Angels..which minister to the Saints, and reinforce the Prayers of good and holy men by joyning thereto their own. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. (1709) 9 Since I like the Frankness, and Tendency of your Argument, I'll try if I can Reinforce it. 1843 Prescott Mexico ii. ii. (1864) 79 It is said, he reinforced the proposal by promising a liberal share of the proceeds of it. 1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xvi. 123 He liked to reinforce what they said by conveying in anecdote some fragments of that rare knowledge. |
b. To increase by giving fresh force to; also simply, to increase, make greater.
| 1659 Gentl. Calling viii. §7 The loud noise of roaring Mirth is re-inforced to drown that poor whisper of Conscience. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. ii. 43 Exclamation properly is..but the slacking of the voice to re-inforce it somewhat more. 1684 R. Waller Nat. Exper. 80 We reinforced the Cold by a great quantity of fresh Snow and Salt. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Wealth, They have reinforced their own productivity by the creation of that marvellous machinery. 1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. iv. (1875) 153 Religion had early possessed itself of this force of character, and reinforced it. |
4. intr. To obtain reinforcements. rare.
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. ii. 18 It is a day turn'd strangely; or betimes Let's re-inforce, or fly. 1811 Henry & Isabella I. 133 In the mean while the enemy reinforced, and pursued the English. |
II. † 5. a. To renew or repeat with fresh force.
| 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 219 Re-inforcing the charge, he with much adoe obtained the victory. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xx. 72 Rallying all into one body, they re-inforced the fight. a 1662 Heylin Laud ii. (1671) 238 The same offer was reinforced a fortnight after. |
† b. To direct with renewed force. Obs.—1
| a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) V. 4 Cry'd strange!—then reinforced his Light Against the Moon with all his Might. |
† 6. To enforce, or put in force, again. Obs.
| 1640 Lenthall in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 19 To manifest to the World, that Our retirements were to reinforce a greater Unity and Duty. 1656 Ld. Whitlock in Burton's Diary (1828) I. 194 Let the old order be reinforced, and Wednesday sennight be the day. 1667–8 Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 239 [To] attend his Majesty, desiring him to reinforce..the laws against Conventicles. 1720 Waterland Defence Div. Christ Wks. 1823 II. 105 It pleased God..to proclaim the high dignity of God the Son, to reinforce his rightful claim of homage. |
† 7. To constrain or impel afresh. Obs.—1
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 172 Till young Abdul was reinforced to revenge his Father's Death. |