Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit. Shak.

To see the falls for force of the river Kent. T. Gray.

He was, in the full force of the words, a good man. Macaulay.

Which now they hold by force, and not by right. Shak.

Is Lucius general of the forces? Shak.

Animal force (Physiol.), muscular force or energy. -- Catabiotic force [Gr. (?) down (intens.) + (?) life.] (Biol.), the influence exerted by living structures on adjoining cells, by which the latter are developed in harmony with the primary structures. -- Centrifugal force, Centripetal force, Coercive force, etc. See under Centrifugal, Centripetal, etc. -- Composition of forces, Correlation of forces, etc. See under Composition, Correlation, etc. -- Force and arms [trans. of L. vi et armis] (Law), an expression in old indictments, signifying violence. -- In force, or Of force, of unimpaired efficacy; valid; of full virtue; not suspended or reversed. "A testament is of force after men are dead." Heb. ix. 17. -- Metabolic force (Physiol.), the influence which causes and controls the metabolism of the body. -- No force, no matter of urgency or consequence; no account; hence, to do no force, to make no account of; not to heed. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Of force, of necessity; unavoidably; imperatively. "Good reasons must, of force, give place to better." Shak. -- Plastic force (Physiol.), the force which presumably acts in the growth and repair of the tissues. -- Vital force (Physiol.), that force or power which is inherent in organization; that form of energy which is the cause of the vital phenomena of the body, as distinguished from the physical forces generally known.

Syn. -- Strength; vigor; might; energy; stress; vehemence; violence; compulsion; coaction; constraint; coercion. -- Force, Strength. Strength looks rather to power as an inward capability or energy. Thus we speak of the strength of timber, bodily strength, mental strength, strength of emotion, etc. Force, on the other hand, looks more to the outward; as, the force of gravitation, force of circumstances, force of habit, etc. We do, indeed, speak of strength of will and force of will; but even here the former may lean toward the internal tenacity of purpose, and the latter toward the outward expression of it in action. But, though the two words do in a few cases touch thus closely on each other, there is, on the whole, a marked distinction in our use of force and strength. "Force is the name given, in mechanical science, to whatever produces, or can produce, motion." Nichol.

Thy tears are of no force to mollify
This flinty man. Heywood.

More huge in strength than wise in works he was. Spenser.

Adam and first matron Eve
Had ended now their orisons, and found
Strength added from above, new hope to spring
Out of despair. Milton.

To force their monarch and insult the court. Dryden.

I should have forced thee soon wish other arms. Milton.

To force a spotless virgin's chastity. Shak.

It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay
That scarce the victor forced the steel away. Dryden.

To force the tyrant from his seat by war. Sahk.

Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion. Fuller.

What can the church force more? J. Webster.

High on a mounting wave my head I bore,
Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore. Dryden.

For me, I force not argument a straw. Shak.

Syn. -- To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press; impel.

Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart. Spenser.

Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear. Shak.

I force not of such fooleries. Camden.

It is not sufficient to have attained the name and dignity of a shepherd, not forcing how. Udall.