force

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an act of aggression, as one against a person who resists

   They accomplished things through force when diplomacy failed.

2. 2
   noun

   physical energy or intensity

   The ball was hit with all the force the batter could muster.

3. 3
   noun

   a powerful effect or influence

   The force of my eloquence easily persuaded them.

4. 4
   noun

   a unit that is part of some military service

   The senate sent Caesar a force of six thousand men.

5. 5
   noun

   a group of people having the power of effective action

   They joined forces with a band of adventurers.

6. 6
   noun

   group of people willing to obey orders

   a public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens

7. 7
   noun

   (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity

   force equals mass times acceleration

8. 8
   verb

   impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably

   They forced their diet fads on us.

Etymology

From Middle English force, forz, fors, from Old Norse fors (“waterfall”), from Proto-Germanic *fursaz (“waterfall”). Cognate with Icelandic foss (“waterfall”), Norwegian foss (“waterfall”), Swedish fors (“waterfall”). Doublet of foss.