enfeebler 
enfeebler (en-fe'bler), n. One who or that 
which enfeebles or weakens. 
Bane of every manly art, 
Sweet enfeebler of the heart ! 
O, too pleasing is thy strain, 
Hence, to southern climes again. 
Philips, To Signora Cuzzino. 
enfeeblisht (en-fe'blish), . t. [< ME. enfe- 
blishen, < OF. enfebliss-, stem of certain parts of 
enfeblir, enfeeble : see enfeeble and -isP.] To 
enfeeble. 
Who of his neigbore eny thing of thes askith to Imrwe, 
and it were enfeblished [var. feblid] or deed, the lord not 
present, he shal be compelled to geeld. 
Wycli/, Ex. xxii. 14 (Oxf.). 
enfefft, v. t. See enfeoff. 
enfeffementt, n. See enfeoffment. 
enfellowshipt, v. t. [ME. enfelaushippe (Halli- 
well) ; < en-" + fellowship.] To accompany, 
enfelont (en-fel'on), v. t. [< enj + felon.'] To 
render fierce, cruel, or frantic. 
With that, like one enfelon'd or distraught, 
She forth did rome whether her rage her bore. 
Spenser, F. Q., V. viii. 48. 
enfeoff (en-fef), v. t. [Formerly also infeoff; 
the spelling, as also in the simple feoff, q. v., is 
artificial, after the ML. (Law L.) form infeof- 
fare, infeofare, feoffare ; prop, spelled enfeff, < 
ME. enfeffen, < OF. enfeffer, enfeofer (ML. reflex 
infeoffare, infeofare), (. en- (L. in-) + feffer, in- 
vest with a fief: see feoff, v.~\ 1. Ln laic, to 
give a feud to ; hence, to invest with a fee ; 
give any corporeal hereditament to in fee sim- 
ple or fee tail. 
Alsoe. that as often as it shall happen that seaven of 
the said ffeoffees dye, those seaven who shall be then 
liveing shall en/eo/e of the premisses certain other honest 
men. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 256. 
The dispossessed Franks of Armenia and Palestine . . . 
he enfeofed with estates of land in Cyprus. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 165. 
2f. Figuratively, to surrender or give up. 
The skipping king . . . 
Grew a companion to the common streets, 
Enfeo/'d himself to popularity. 
Sliak., 1 Hen. IV., iii. 2. 
enfeoffment (en-fef'ment), . [< ME. enfeffe- 
ment, < OF. enfeffemeni, < enfeffer, enfeoff: see 
enfeoff and -ment.~\ In law : (a) The act of giv- 
ing the fee simple of an estate, (b) The in- 
strument or deed by which one is invested with 
the fee of an estate, (c) The estate thus ob- 
tained. 
For tliee y ordeyued paradijs ; 
Ful riche was thin enfe/ement. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Furnivall), p. 163. 
enfermt, v. t. A Middle English variant of 
affirm. 
enfertilet, . t. [< en-l + fertile.'] To fertilize. 
The rivers Dee . . . and Done make way for themselves 
and enfertUe the fields. 
Holland, tr. of Camden's Britain, ii. 4. 
enfetter (en-fet'er), v. t. [< en-i + fetter.] To 
fetter ; bind in fetters. 
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love, 
That she may make, unmake, do what she list. 
Shut., Othello, ii. 3. 
enfever (en-fe'ver), v. t. [< CM- 1 + fever, after 
F. enfievrer.] To excite fever in. [Rare.] 
In vain the purer stream 
Courts him, as gently the green bank it laves, 
To blend the enfewring draught with its pellucid waves. 
Anna Seward, Sonnets. 
enfiercet (en-ferV), v. t. [< en- 1 + fierce.] To 
make fierce. 
But more enforced through his currish play, 
Him sternly grypt, and, hailing to and fro, 
To overthrow him strongly did assay. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 8. 
enfilade (en-fi-lad'), n. [< F. enfilade, a suite of 
rooms, a string (as of phrases, etc.), a raking 
fire, lit. a thread, < enfiler, thread, string, rake 
(a trench), rake (a vessel) : see enfile.] Stilit.,& 
line or straight passage ; specifically, the situ- 
ation of a place, or of a body of men, which may 
be raked with shot through its whole length. 
enfilade (en-fi-lad'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. enfiladed, 
ppr. enfilading. [< enfilade, n.] Milit., to pierce, 
scour, or rake with shot through the whole 
length, as a work or line of troops ; be in a 
position to attack (a military work or a line of 
troops) in this manner. 
The Spaniards, carrying the tower, whose guns com- 
pletely enfiladed it, obtained possession of this important 
pass into the beleaguered city. Prenmtt, Ferd. and Isa., i. 7. 
While this was going on, Sherman was confronting a 
rebel battery which enfiladed the road on which he was 
marching. U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 605. 
A strong and well-constructed earth-work, which was so 
placed as to enjilade the narrow and difficult channel for 
a mile below. J. R. Sole;/, Blockade and Cruisers, p. 216. 
Enfilading battery. See battery. 
1928 
enfilet (en-fil'), r. t. [< OF. enfiler, F. enfiler, 
thread, string, rake (a trench), rake (a vessel), 
= Sp. enfilar = Pg. enfiar = It. infilare, < ML. 
infilare, put on a thread, thread, string, < L. in, 
on, + filmn, a thread: see file**, n. and v.] To 
put on a thread; thread ; string. 
Thei taughten hym a lace to braied 
And weue a purs, and to enfile 
A perle. Gower, Conf. Amant., vii. 
The common people of India make holes through them. 
and so wear them enfiled as carkans and collars about 
their neckes. Holland, tr. of Pliny, xxxvii. 6. 
enfiled (en-fild'), ;). a. [Pp. of enfile, v.] In 
her., transfixing and carrying any object, as the 
head of a man or beast: said of a sword the 
blade of which transfixes the object, 
enfiret (en-fir' ),.. [<en-^+fire.] To inflame; 
set on fire ; kindle. 
It glads him now to note how th' Orb of Flame 
Which girts this Globe doth not enfire the Frame. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 7. 
enflamet, v. An obsolete variant of inflame. 
enflesh (en-flesh'), t'.t. [<ra-l + flesh.] If. To 
incorporate as with the flesh ; embody ; incar- 
nate. 
Vices which are habituated, inbred, and enfteshed in 
him. Florio, tr. of Montaigne's Essays, p. 173. 
2. To clothe with flesh. [Rare.] 
What though the skeletons have been articulated and 
enfleshed? G. D. Boardman, Creative Week, p. 57. 
enfleurage (F. pron. ou-fle-razh'), n. [F., < 
en-, < L. in-, + fleur, < L. flos (flor-), flower; cf. 
inflorescence.] The process of extracting deli- 
cate perfumes from flowers by the agency of 
inodorous fats. 
enflowert (en-flou'er), v. t. [Early mod. E. 
enflore; < en- 1 + flower.] To cover or bedeck 
with flowers. 
These odorous and enjiowered fields 
Are none of thine ; no, here's Elysium. 
B. Jonson, Case is Altered, v. 1. 
enfold (en-fold'), v. t. See infold. 
enfoliatet (en-fo'li-at), v. t. See infoliate. 
enforce (en-fors'), . ; pret. and pp. enforced, 
ppr. enforcing. [Formerly also inforee ; < ME. 
enforcen, enforsen, < OF. enforcer, enforcier (F. 
cnforcir), < ML. infortiare, strengthen, < in- 
+ fortiare, strengthen, < fortia (OF. force), 
strength, force : see force*-, and cf. afforce, de- 
force, efforce. Cf. effort.] I. trans. If. To in- 
crease the force or strength of ; make strong ; 
strengthen; fortify. 
Hur seemely cities too sorowen hem all, 
Enforced were the entres with egre men fele, 
That hee ne might in that marche no maner wende. 
Alisaunder of Macedoine (E. E. T. S.), 1. 908. 
And what there is of vengeance in a lion 
Chaf'd among dogs or robb'd of his dear young, 
The same, enforc'd more terrible, more mighty, 
Expect from me. Beau, and PL, Philaster, v. 3. 
2. To urge or impress with force or energy; 
make forcible, clear, or intelligible : as, to en- 
force remarks or arguments. 
This fable contains and enforces many just and serious 
considerations. Bacon, Physical Fables, ii., Expl. 
3. To gain or extort by force or compulsion ; 
compel : as, to enforce obedience. 
Sometimes with lunatic bans, sometimes with prayers, 
Enforce their charity. Sliak., Lear, ii. 3. 
My business, urging on a present haste, 
Enforceth short reply. Ford, Lady's Trial, i. 1. 
4. To put or keep in force ; compel obedience 
to ; cause to be executed or performed : as, to 
enforce laws or rules. 
Law confines itself necessarily to such duties as can be 
enforced by penalties. 
H. N. Oxenham, Short Studie?, p. 31. 
5f. To discharge with force ; hurl ; throw. 
As swift as stones 
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. 
Shak., Hen. V., iv. 7. 
6. To impel; constrain; force. [Archaic.] 
For competence of life I will allow you, 
That lack of means enforce you not to evil. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., v. 5. 
Through fortune's spight, that false did prove, 
I am inforc'd from thee to part. 
The Merchant's Daughter (Child's Ballads, IV. 329). 
Thou shalt live, 
If any soul for thee sweet life will give, 
Enforced by none. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, I. 318. 
71. To press or urge, as with a charge. 
If he evade us there, 
Enforce him with his envy to the people. 
Shak., COT., iii. 3. 
Now, when I come to inforee, as I will do, 
Your cares, yonr watchings, and your many prayers, 
Your more than many gifts. B. Jonson, Volpone, i, 1. 
8f. To prove ; evince. 
enforest 
Which laws in such case we must obey, unless thei'e be 
reason shewed, which may necessarily enforce that the law 
of reason, or of God, doth enjoin the contrary. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity. 
Of. To force ; violate ; ravish. Chaucer. 10f. 
Reflexively, to strain one's self; put forth one's 
greatest exertion. Chaucer. 
Also the Cristene men enforcen hem, in alle maneres 
that thei mowen, for to figlite, and for to desceyven that 
on that other. lUandemlle, Travels, p. 137. 
= Syn. 3. Extort, etc. See exact, v. t. 
II. t intrans. 1. To grow strong; become 
fierce or active ; increase. 
Whan Hervy saugh hym so delyuered, he hente the horse 
and lepte vp lightly, and ran in to the presse that dide 
sore encrese and eii/orse. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 330. 
2. To strive; exert one's self. Chaucer. 3. 
To make headway. 
Whanne the schip was rauysehid and myghte not en- 
force aghens the wynd, whanne the schip was gheuun to 
the blowingis of the wynd, we weren borun with cours into 
an yle that is clepid Camla. Wyclif, Acts xxvii. 16, 16. 
enforce! (en-fors'), n. [< enforce, v. Prop. 
force.] Force; strength; power. 
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, 
Though by his blindness maim d for high attempts, 
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight, 
As a petty enterprise of small enforce. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 1223. 
enforceable, enforcible (en-for'sa-bl, -si-bl), a. 
Capable of being enforced. 
Grounded upon plain testimonies of Scripture, and en- 
forcible, by good reason. Barrow, Works, I. 71. 
The public at large would have no enforceable right. 
F. Pollock, Land Laws, p. 14. 
enforcedly (en-for'sed-li), adv. By violence or 
compulsion; not by choice. [Rare.] 
If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on 
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well : but thou 
Dost it enforcedly ; thou 'dst courtier be again. 
Shak.,1. of A.,iv. 3. 
enforcement (en-fors'ment), n. [< OF. en- 
forcement, < enforcer, enforce: seeenforce.] 1. 
The exercise of force ; compulsory or constrain- 
ing action ; compulsion ; coercion. [Archaic.] 
Such a newe herte and lusty corage vnto the lawe warde 
canste thou neuer come by of thyne owne strength and 
enforcement, but by the operacion and workinge of the 
spirit*. J. Udall, Prol. to Romans. 
At my enforcement shall the king unite 
Their nuptial hands. Glover, Athenaid, xx. 
Goddess ! heal' these tuneless numbers, wrung 
By sweet enforcement and remembrance dear. 
Keats, Ode to Psyche. 
2. That which enforces, urges, or compels ; 
constraining or impelling power ; efficient mo- 
tive ; impulse ; exigence. [Archaic.] 
Let gentleness my strong enforcement be. 
Shak., As you Like it, ii. 7. 
The Law enjoyns a Penalty as an enforcement to Obedi- 
ence. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 50. 
Rewards and punishments of another life, which the 
Almighty has established as the enforcements of his law. 
Locke. 
His assumption of our flesh to his divinity was an en- 
forcement beyond all the methods of wisdom that were 
ever made use of in the world. Hammond, Fundamentals. 
3. The act of enforcing; the act of giving force 
or effect to, or of putting in force ; a forcing 
upon the understanding or the will : as, the 
enforcement of an argument by illustrations ; 
enforcement of the laws by stringent measures. 
Enforcement act. an act for enforcing the collection 
of the revenues of the United States, passed in 1833 
after the nullification of the tariff act of 1832 by South 
Carolina. 
enforcer (eu-for'ser), n. One who or that which 
compels, constrains, or urges ; one who effects 
by violence ; one who carries into effect. 
Julio. With my soveraignes leave 
I'll wed thee to this man, will Jie, nill he. 
Phil. Pardon me, sir, I'll be no love enforcer: 
1 use no power of mine unto those ends. 
Fletcher (and Rmdey), Maid in the Mill, v. 2. 
That is even now an ineffective speaking to which grimace 
and gesture ("action," as Demosthenes called them) are 
not added as enforcers. Whitney, Encyc. Brit., XVII. 767. 
enforcible, a. See enforceable. 
enforcivet (en-for'siv), a. [< enforce + -ive] 
Serving or tending to enforce or constrain; 
compulsory. 
Cos. But might we not win Cato to our friendship 
By honouring speeches, nor persuasive gifts? 
Me. Not possible. 
Ca>8. Nor by enf arrive usage? 
Chapman, Cwsar and Pompey, i. 1. 
enforcivelyt (en-for'siv-li), adv. By enforce- 
ment; compulsorily. Marston. 
enforest (en-for'est), v. t. [Formerly also en- 
forrest; < OF. enforester, < ML. inforestare, con- 
vert into forest, < in, in, + foresta, forest: see 
en- 1 and forest.] To turn into or lay under 
forest; afforest. 
