▪ I. † eˈfforce, n. Obs. rare—1.
[a. OF. efforce, -se, f. efforcer; see next.]
A violent means.
| 1549 Sir T. Chaloner Erasm. Moriæ Enc. P j a, Woulde they so manfully defende and kepe it, both with swoorde, with poyson, and with all other efforce. |
▪ II. efforce, v.
(ɛˈfɔəs)
Also 6 efforse.
[ad. F. efforcer (OF. esforcer) = Pr. esforsar, -zar, It. sforzare:—med.L. exfortiāre, f. ex out + forti-s strong.]
† 1. refl. To force oneself, to make an effort (transl. F. s'efforcer). Obs.
| 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. III. 31 Everiche of the company efforced them to doo honour. 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. iii. i. xv. 105 b, Manye efforce themselves to make argumentes to be contrarye. |
2. trans. In Spenser's use: To force open, to gain by force, to compel; also, to efforce it.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. (J.) Iron chests and coffers..Them to efforce by violence or wrong. Ibid. iii. ix. 9 Affray with cruell threat, Ere that we to efforce it do begin. Ibid. xii. 43 Th' enchaunter..all that fraud did frame To have efforst the love of that faire lasse. |
3. To force out, tear out by force. rare.
| 1855 Singleton Virgil I. 91 Standing corn, From lowest roots aloft efforced. |
Hence eˈfforced ppl. a., uttered with effort.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. viii. 4 Againe he heard a more efforced voyce. |