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Administer vs Enforce - What's the difference?

administer | enforce |

As verbs the difference between administer and enforce

is that administer is to cause to take, either by openly offering or through deceit while enforce is to strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.

administer

English

Alternative forms

* administre (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To cause to take, either by openly offering or through deceit.
  • We administered the medicine to our dog by mixing it in his food.
  • * Macaulay
  • A noxious drug had been administered to him.
  • To apportion out.
  • * Spectator
  • A fountain administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of the place.
  • * Macaulay
  • Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before known.
  • * Philips
  • [Let zephyrs] administer their tepid, genial airs.
  • To manage or supervise the conduct, performance or execution of; to govern or regulate the parameters for the conduct, performance or execution of; to work in an administrative capacity.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • For forms of government let fools contest: / Whate'er is best administered is best.
  • To minister (to).
  • administering to the sick
  • (legal) To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or whose will fails of an executor.
  • To tender, as an oath.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Swear to keep the oath that we administer .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    enforce

    English

    Alternative forms

    * inforce (obsolete)

    Verb

    (enforc)
  • (obsolete) To strengthen (a castle, town etc.) with extra troops, fortifications etc.
  • (obsolete) To intensify, make stronger, add force to.
  • (obsolete, reflexive) To exert oneself, to try hard.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:I pray you enforce youreselff at that justis that ye may be beste, for my love.
  • To give strength or force to; to affirm, to emphasize.
  • :The victim was able to enforce his evidence against the alleged perpetrator.
  • (archaic) To compel, oblige (someone or something); to force.
  • *, I.2.4.iv:
  • *:Uladislaus the Second, King of Poland, and Peter Dunnius, Earl of Shrinehad been hunting late, and were enforced to lodge in a poor cottage.
  • *1899 , E. OE. Somerville and Martin Ross, Some Experiences of an Irish R.M.'', Great Uncle McCarthy :
  • *:In a few minutes I was stealthily groping my way down my own staircase, with a box of matches in my hand, enforced by scientific curiosity, but none the less armed with a stick.
  • To keep up, impose or bring into effect something, not necessarily by force.
  • :The police are there to enforce the law.
  • (obsolete) To make or gain by force; to force.
  • :to enforce a passage
  • *Spenser
  • *:enforcing furious way
  • (obsolete) To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
  • *Shakespeare
  • *:As swift as stones / Enforced from the old Assyrian slings.
  • (obsolete) To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with energy.
  • :to enforce arguments or requests
  • *Burke
  • *:enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity
  • (obsolete) To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
  • *Shakespeare
  • *:Enforce him with his envy to the people.
  • To prove; to evince.
  • :(Hooker)
  • Derived terms

    * enforcer * enforcement