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Fulfil vs Enforce - What's the difference?

fulfil | enforce |

As verbs the difference between fulfil and enforce

is that fulfil is (archaic) to fill up while enforce is (obsolete|transitive) to strengthen (a castle, town etc) with extra troops, fortifications etc.

fulfil

English

Alternative forms

* (US)

Verb

(fulfill)
  • (archaic) To fill up.
  • My lady is positively fulfilled of grace.
  • * 1870 , James Thomson,
  • The silence which benumbs or strains the sense
    Fulfils with awe the soul's despair unweeping
  • To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
  • You made a promise, son, and now you must fulfil it.
  • To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.
  • This job fulfils me in a way my last one never did.
  • To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).
  • Unfortunately, you don't fulfil the criteria for extra grants at the present time.

    Derived terms

    * (UK) - fulfilment, fulfilled, fulfilling, fulfillable * unfulfilled

    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