force vb.1 (4 common 16th cent. sense; H5 II. Chor. 32* “ a play,” by some referred to FORCE vb.2, is possibly corrupt)
1.
to press
home, urge Meas. III. i. 108,
H8 III. ii. 2
“If you will now unite
in your complaints, And them with a
constancy,”
Cor. III. ii. 51, Compl. 157.
2.
to reinforce Mac. V. v. 5.
3.
to attach importance
to, care for
Lucr. 1021
“I not argument a
straw”
; (hence) to hesitate “to” do something
LLL. V. ii. 441
“Your oath once broke,
you force not to forswear.”
