strong hand
The exercise of superior power or strength; the use of force. Now rare; formerly common in phr. † by strong hand, with strong hand, by force, by (illegal) violence.
| 1382 Wyclif Exod. iii. 19 The kyng of Egipte shal not ȝyue ȝow leue that ȝe goon, but bi strong hoond [Vulg. per manum validam]. Ibid. xxxii. 11 Thi puple, whom thow hast ladde out of the loond of Egipte..in a stroong hoond [Vulg. in manu robusta]. 1386 Rolls of Parlt. III. 225/1 Nichol Brembre..with stronge honde..was chosen Mair. 1390 Gower Conf. Prol. 716 Cesar Julius..With great bataile and with strong honde All Grece, Perse and eke Caldee Wan and put under. 1476 J. Paston in P. Lett. III. 155 Robard Brandon and Colevyle have..enformyd my lady that ye wold have gotyn Caster fro hyr by stronge hand. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iv. xi. 73 b, And yet in a good cause he procedeth but thus farr, that if it come to violence and strong hande, he sayeth that he wyll geue place. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. i. 98 If by strong hand you offer to breake in.., A vulgar comment will be made of it. 1656–9 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 205 They shut the Parliament house door, and kept the Speaker by strong hand in his Chair. 1713 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 23 Apr., I carried it with the strongest hand possible. 1799 Durnford & East Cases K.B. (1800) VIII. 357 The defendants..with force and arms, unlawfully, and injuriously, and with a strong hand, entered into a certain mill. 1888 Times 21 Aug. 7/3 When war is declared the law that obtains between belligerents is the law of the strong hand tempered..with humanity. |