Legal Definition and Related Resources of Force

Meaning of Force

power in motion or action ; strength directed to an end; used as synonymous with violence in the context of assault . A person may use as much force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime , or in the affecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or persons unlawfully at large .

Force Alternative Definition

Restraining power; validity; binding effect. A law may be said to be in force when it is not repealed, or, more loosely, when it can be carried into practical effect. An iigreement is in force when the parties to it may be compelled to act, or are acting, under its terms and stipulations. Strength applied; active power; power put in motion. Actual force is where strength is actually applied, or the means of applying it are at hand. The display of power to injure sufficient to put in bodily fear is force. 5 Blatchf. (U. S.) 18; 2 Whart. Crim. Law, 1698. Implied force is that which is implied by law from the commission of an unlawful act. Every trespass quare elausum fregit is committed with implied force. 1 Salk. 641; Co. Litt. 57b, 161b, 162a; 1 Saund. 81, 140, note 4; 5 Term R. 361; 8 Term R. 78, 358; Bac. Abr. “Trespass;” 3 Wils. 18; Fitzh. Nat. Brev. 890; 6 East, 387; 5 Bos. & P. 365, 454. Mere nonfeasance cannot be considered as force, generally. 2 Saund. 47; Co. Litt. 161; Bouv. Inst. Index.

Synonyms of Force

(Break), verb

batter
breach
crack
disjoint
fissure
inrumpere
invade
pry
rend
rive
rupture
shatter
smash
split
strain
tear asunder
wrench

(Coerce), verb

apply pressure
cause to yield
command
compel
constrain
control
demand
enforce
enforce obedience
enjoin
enslave
enthrall
exercise power over
exprimere
extorquere
extort
impose
insist
make obligatory
necessitate
obligate
oblige
order
overpower
overwhelm
press
push
put under obligation
require
tax
urge
use violence

(Compulsion), noun

arbitrary power
authority
coaction
coercion
command
compulsion
constraining power
constraint
constriction
control
demand
dictation
discipline
drive
duress
enforcement
exaction
impelling
imposition
impressment
inducement
insistence
martial law
necessitation
necessitude
necessity
need
oppression
persuasion
pressure
prevailing
repression
restraint
restriction
sanction
spur of necessity
stress
strict control
subjection
subjugation
urgency
vehemence
Associated Concepts: ejectment by force
forced merger
forced payment
forced sale fokigv phusls: I is legibus est inimica
Force is inimiQuod alias bonum et justum est
siper vim : t
raudtm betatur
malum et injustum efficitur
What iherwise is good and just
becomes bacfand unjust if sought bv force and fraud
Non videturvimfacere
qui jure uo utitur et ordinariaactione experitur
We is not : r
s
dered to use force who exercises his own right
2nd proceeds by ordinary action
Ejus nulla culpa est
cuiparere necessesit
No guilt attaches to a person who :> compelled to obey
Nihilconsensui tam contrariumest quamvisatquemetus
Nothing is so opposed to consent as force and fear

(Legal efficacy), noun

authorized might
lawful power
lawful vigor
legal vitality
legitimate puissance
rightful strength
sanctioned effectiveness
sanctioned potency
statutory cogency
valid potentiality

(Strength), noun

ability
ableness
ascendancy
authoritativeness
brawn
capability
cogency
command
competence
consequence
control
domination
dominion
effectiveness
effectuality
efficacy
empowerment
enablement
endurance
energy
firmness
forcefulness
hardiness
impact
impetus
importance
influence
influentiality
intensity
manus
mastery
might
mightiness
omnipotence
physical power
potence
potency
power
powerfulness
predominance
pressure
primacy
proficiency
stamina
supremacy
sway
vigor
vigorousness
virulence
vis
vitality Associated Concepts: armed force
constructive force
excessive force
intervening force
physical force
superior force
threats of force
unnecessary force
unreasonable forceforeign phrases: Vim vi repellere licet
modofiat moderamine inculpatae tutelae
non ad sumendam vindictam
sed adpropulsandam injuriam
It is lawful to repel force by force
provided it be done with the moderation of blameless defense
not for the purpose of taking revenge
but to repel injury

Related Entries of Force in the Encyclopedia of Law Project

Browse or run a search for Force in the American Encyclopedia of Law, the Asian Encyclopedia of Law, the European Encyclopedia of Law, the UK Encyclopedia of Law or the Latin American and Spanish Encyclopedia of Law.

Force in Historical Law

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Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms

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Related Legal Terms

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Mentioned in these terms

Assault, Battery, By Virtue Of, Cadet, Campbell’s Act, Coercion, Combination, Combines, Compel, Compelled, , Currency, Custom, Directory, Discharge, Electrocution, Enforce, Equivalent, Forcible Entry, Imperative, Imprisonment, Invalid, Judicial Separation, Kidnap, Letter, Machine, Machinery, Manual Labor, Material Fact, Militia, Narcotics, Nullity, Operate, Racketeering, , Ravish, Rebellion, Regulation, Revolution, Ruling, Sabotage, Self-defense, Smith Act.

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Force in the Dictionary	Force in our legal dictionaries
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Related topics	Force in the World Encyclopedia of Law

Notice

This definition of Force is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This entry needs to be proofread.

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Force in Law Enforcement

Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of force.

Force