reinforcen.
/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/, U.S. /ˌriᵻnˈfɔrs/ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > group with special function or duty > [noun] > reinforcements
succour?c1225
over-numbera1450
supplies1488
supplement1548
re-enforce1618
recrew1619
recruit1635
reinforcement1641
enforcement1643
reinforce1648
sustainer1708
re-enforcement1718
supporter1796
stiffening1900
1648 J. Evelyn Let. 15 June in Diary & Corr. (1859) III. 29 The general sent to Skippon for a re-inforce of 3000 horse.
2. Gunnery. A part (or one of two parts) of a gun next to the breech, made stronger than the rest in order to resist the explosive force of the powder. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > reinforcing
fortification1626
reinforce1757
jacket1854
re-enforce1861
gun hoop1891
1757 J. Muller Treat. Artillery ii. 68 The first reinforce, includes the base ring, ogee next to it, the vent field, vent astragal, and first reinforce ring.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Cannon The first reinforce..includes the base ring.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Cannon The second reinforce begins..where the first terminates.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 231/2 On the side of the gun upon the first reinforce, are cast two knobs.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. (at cited word) There are generally two in each piece, called the first and second reinforce.
1863 Sat. Rev. 12 Sept. 357 The Parrott guns are of cast-iron, with a wrought-iron reinforce.
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 26 Other early guns that were mounted were made with a loop underneath the barrel before the reinforce.
1988 P. O'Brian Let. of Marque ii. 52 Her guns were hopelessly old-fashioned..the second reinforce and the muzzle astragal were in every case different from the present regulation piece.
3. Any part (such as an additional support or thickness of material) added to an object to strengthen it.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > concrete > [noun] > strengthening structure or material
reinforce1869
reinforcing1900
reinforcement2004
1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour x. 204 A remarkable diversity is seen to have existed between the corresponding reinforces or additional defences of the right and left sides.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 1636/1 A reinforce or strengthening piece on a fabric at a point of wear, or around a hole or eyelet.
1921 W. F. Durand Hydraulics of Pipe Lines v. 242 The cover is fitted up and secured in place making joint against the inner surface of the reinforce casting.
1989 Metrop. Mus. Jrnl. 24 1071/1 The presence of these crescents on the roped edge of the reinforce on the sallet further suggests that it is the work of Kolman Helmschmid.
2000 C. Gravett Hastings 1066 10 It is also possible that it is a reinforce for the chest or a flap to cover the neck opening.
Compounds
attributive. Gunnery. Designating part of a gun connected with a reinforce (see sense 2), spec. the flat ring or moulding round a gun at the points where the reinforces meet or terminate, esp. in reinforce band, reinforce ring. Cf. quots. 1692, 1710 at reinforced adj. 1. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > raised band on cannon > reinforce ring
ramforce ring1669
ranforce-ring1702
reinforce ring1757
baseline1862
1757 J. Muller Treat. Artillery ii. 68 The first reinforce, includes the base ring, ogee next to it, the vent field, vent astragal, and first reinforce ring.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine at Cannon The first reinforce..includes..the vent-astragal, and first reinforce-ring.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 233/1 Reinforce-astragal and fillets.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Reinforce-ring. There are three in each gun, called the first, second, and third.
1868 C. B. Norton & W. J. Valentine Rep. to Govt. U.S. on Munitions of War at Paris Universal Exhib. 1867 130 A smooth-bore cannon. This gun is constructed on the same principles as the others, with steel re-inforce rings.
1919 Mariner's Mirror 5 41 The lashing-chain in conjunction with the second reinforce-ring and ogee, conspire to mask the feature which I most desire to make clear.
1949 A. C. Manucy Artillery through Ages 49 Basic proportions for the carriage were obtained by measuring..the diameter of the second reinforce ring.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
reinforcev.
/ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/, U.S. /ˌriᵻnˈfɔrs/ I. To strengthen.
1. To make more resistant or fixed.† c. transitive (reflexive). To fix oneself more firmly. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To make stronger, strengthen (esp. something immaterial); to provide with additional support.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > strengthening or confirmation of immaterial things > strengthen or confirm immaterial things [verb (transitive)]
strengha1175
strengthc1200
astrengthc1250
strength1340
confirmc1386
affirma1393
forcec1430
renforce?1473
corrobore1485
re-enforcec1485
reinforcec1485
stronga1500
consolidate?a1547
strengthen1546
sinewize1600
sinew1625
confortate1651
nervate1682
scaffolda1693
corroborate1698
substantiate1792
nerve1856
stouten1887
affirm1899
toughen1901
to put stuffing into1938
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase in strength or force
afforce1425
forcec1430
reforcec1450
fortify1470
reinforcec1485
stiffen?a1500
strengthen1548
toughen1582
invigorate1646
hardena1677
recruit1678
emphasize1800
bastion1822
beef1941
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Knychthede (1993) vii. 40 The curage of knychtis js reinforssit, and the curage of cowartis oursett.
1570 T. Wilson in tr. Demosthenes 3 Orations 118 For that a dead man fighteth no more, whereas he that escapeth vpon any ouerthrow, may reinforce himselfe againe, and be profitable to his Countrie diuers wayes.
1598 R. P. tr. M. Martínez Sixth Bk. Myrrour of Knighthood i. vii. sig. K Reinforcing his courage, hee gaue such a blowe on the left side of his enemies helme, that it lacked little to haue ouerthrowne him from his horse.
1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. F3 The Retractives of bashfulnesse, and naturall modesty..might have hindred his progression, had they not been reinforced by the infusion of Soveraigne favour.
1657 J. Howell Londinopolis 17 He reinforceth the right of the City by Proclamations.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) 47 The Memory..by the return of a like Object again is sometimes revived and reinforced.
1754 G. Jeffreys tr. M. H. Vida Chess in Misc. 152 Mars..ply'd His working thoughts the Youth to reinforce..by some new resource.
1788 E. Burke Speech against W. Hastings in Wks. XIII. 320 Fury, rage and malice..recruiting and reinforcing their avarice, their vices are no longer human.
1805 J. Foster Essays I. i. ii. 20 To reinforce our virtues from the dust of those who first taught them.
1879 W. H. Stone in G. Grove Dict. Music I. 153/2 Bach uses it frequently, sometimes merely to reinforce the basses.
1897 ‘O. Rhoscomyl’ For White Rose Arno (U.K. ed.) 86 Pengraig recounted what had been agreed upon; reinforcing the whole with evidence and proof.
1963 Amer. Sociol. Rev. 28 937/1 To reinforce unquestioned respect for the leader, his personal life and conduct must be known as a paradigmatic example of the right way of life.
1990 A. L. Huxtable Unreal Amer. 44 When the story line is selected, and everything is coordinated to reinforce the illusion of reality..the result is, as their creators and marketers say, a ‘themed’ package.
2004 K. Fox Watching Eng. (2005) ii. 341 Conspiring to promote this collective delusion reinforces the social bonds between the girlwatchers.
b. transitive. To strengthen (an object) by an additional support or added thickness of material.
ΚΠ
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 333 The king..caussit maissons..rainforce the samin wallis..that it [sc. Tantallon] sould be wnwinabill in tymeis comming.
1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 119 The side of the Triangle..was reinforced with a Border.
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery v. 379 These Pipes or Tubes shall be well reinforced with the Sinews of Beasts steeped in Glue.
1772 C. Hutton Princ. Bridges 87 They must be well reinforced with proper walls or returns.
1858 H. Gray Anat. 225 If this muscle is reflected outwards, it will be seen to be reinforced by a series of muscular slips, which arise from the angles of the ribs.
1890 Internat. Ann. Anthonys Photogr. Bull. 185 It is advisable..to re-inforce the punch, with one or more thicknesses of cardboard.
1943 Triumphs of Engin. 100 (caption) Further strength is not obtained by adding ‘redundant’ members to other parts of the same structure, but only by reinforcing the members that already exist.
1985 D. Holloway Which? Bk. Plumbing & Central Heating vi. 79/2 (caption) For large cracks in gutters, use glassfibre bandage to reinforce the repair.
2006 New Scientist 20 May 26/1 The economic attractiveness of the windiest sites for generation in the UK is largely cancelled out by the costs of reinforcing supergrid transmission lines.
ΚΠ
1652 C. Cotterell tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Cassandra i. 51 The Prince..reinforc'd himselfe all he could in his Saddle.
d. transitive. Psychology. To establish or strengthen (a response to a stimulus, a learnt behaviour, etc.), esp. by repeating an unpleasant or rewarding stimulus contingent on the response. See reinforcement n. 1c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > experimental psychology > conditioning > establish response [verb (transitive)] > strengthen
re-enforce1888
reinforce1901
1901 Mind 10 252 All memory-traces retained in the nervous system co-operate with the sensations in discharging, reinforcing, inhibiting or modifying reflexes.
1927 G. V. Anrep tr. I. P. Pavlov Conditioned Reflexes vii. 117 The second method consisted in contrasting the single definite conditioned stimulus..with different neighbouring stimuli which were never reinforced.
1973 Howard Jrnl. 13 281 A points system was used to pay the men for desirable behaviours that would be likely also to be reinforced in life outside the institution.
2008 DogSport Mar.–Apr. 17/2 If, when your pup gets to the A-frame, he does his contact perfectly, praise him and race out of the ring to reinforce that behavior.
2. To strengthen with additional supplies or support.† c. transitive. To provide with fresh supplies; to add to or increase the capacity or number of (a thing). Obsolete.
a. transitive. To strengthen or augment (a military or naval force, a position) with additional troops, etc. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [verb (transitive)] > reinforce
enforce1340
stuffc1400
renforce?1473
relieve1487
supply1487
refreshc1500
ranforce1547
strengthen1548
re-enforce1579
reinforce1589
seconda1609
recrew1637
recruit1642
1589 A. Wingfield True Coppie Disc. 41 It was thought that they [sc. some ships] were brought for the Kings prouision, to reinforce his decaied Nauie.
1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 318 Hauing reinforced the point of his armie with Germaine pikes.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 204 They neede not reinforce their Companies with the Irish.
1652 Mercurius Politicus 8–15 July 1729 The Boores are generally arming; Every Towne is reinforced with Horse and Foot; And the Hague is made a Garison.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. i. 40 Seasonably re-inforcing the Garrison, with divers Gentlemen his particular Servants, and a good number of Souldiers.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World i. 80 Sending two and thirty of her Men on Board the great Ship to re-inforce the Men on Board.
1776 J. Trumbull Let. 12 Dec. in J. Judd Corr. Van Cortlandt Family (1977) 156 The critical situation of our Army at the westward, the advantage which might arise by reinforcing Generals Lee and Gates in the Jerseys.
1835 A. Alison Hist. Europe during French Revol. IV. xxvii. 45 Fresh troops continually came up to reinforce those who were exhausted with fatigue.
1915 J. Buchan Nelson's Hist. War V. 126 The bulk of the Russian army went westwards to reinforce the van.
1965 Observer 11 July 2/5 The United States is about to reinforce its troops in Vietnam with a new high-powered ‘air-cavalry’ division.
2001 Independent 1 Feb. i. 14/7 Soldiers have been pouring into the city to reinforce Nato-led peace-keepers.
b. intransitive. To strengthen a military position by obtaining reinforcements. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > [verb (intransitive)] > obtain reinforcements
supply1579
reinforcea1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. iv. 5 It is a day turn'd strangely; or betimes Let's re-inforce, or fly. View more context for this quotation
1811 Henry & Isabella I. 133 In the mean while the enemy reinforced, and pursued the English.
1986 T. Clancy Red Storm Rising (1988) xxviii. 476 We'll..reinforce with infantry assault boats as soon as they arrive.
ΚΠ
1703 G. Farquhar Twin-rivals v. 57 A fresh Battalion of Bottles to reinforce the Cestern.
1839 T. De Quincey Lake Reminisc. in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 254/1 Some subject of hope..must be called in to reinforce the animal fountains of good spirits.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xix. 230 The bears had..destroyed our chances of reinforcing our provisions.
d. transitive. To strengthen (the members of any group) by fresh additions to the number. Chiefly in passive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase in strength or force > specifically a class or party
reinforce1718
1718 Entertainer Ded. sig. A iij The Atheist and the Infidel..are reinforc'd by the Quaker, the Vision-monger and the Seeker.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 520 The Tory party..included the whole bench of bishops, and had been reinforced..by several fresh creations.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People ii. §1. 60 The middle class, thus created, was reinforced by the rise of a similar class in our towns.
1953 D. Whipple Someone at Distance i. 2 Mrs. North had a housekeeper, a Miss Daley, who, reinforced by day-women, kept everything in apple-pie order.
1988 P. L. Fermor Between Woods & Water vii. 171 All the castles were haunted, and earthly packs of wolves were reinforced after dark by solitary werewolves.
3. To make more powerful or intense.
a. transitive. To add to the force or strength of (an argument or statement); to make more forcible or cogent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > render outstanding > again
re-enforcea1593
reinforce1610
reimpress1667
re-emphasize1856
1610 C. Lever Holy Pilgrime iii. 28 They reinforce this argument with some examples in the Scripture.
1678 H. More Let. 25 May 51 in J. Glanvill Saducismus Triumphatus (1681) Angels..which minister to the Saints, and reinforce the Prayers of good and holy men by joyning thereto their own.
1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 9 Since I like the Frankness, and tendency of your Argument, I'll try if I can reinforce it.
1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality (Dublin ed.) III. xvi. 214 I endeavoured to reinforce my Resolution, by repeating to myself the sacred Promise.
1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. ii. 221 It is said, he reinforced the proposal, by promising a liberal share of the proceeds of it.
1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xvi. 123 He liked to reinforce what they said by conveying in anecdote some fragments of that rare knowledge.
1941 Life 27 Jan. 78 To reinforce a statement, a sub-deb says, I ain't woofin'..which means ‘I'm not fooling’.
1974 J. Haldeman Forever War (1976) 14 I'd like to reinforce a couple of points, maybe add some things your instructors Earthside weren't clear about or couldn't know.
2008 N.Y. Mag. 2 June 22/1 Bloomberg would provide a degree of reassurance. Picking him would substantiate and reinforce Obama's message of pragmatism and post-partisanship.
b. transitive. To increase by giving fresh force to; to intensify, make greater.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)]
echeOE
ekec1200
multiplya1275
morea1300
increase13..
vaunce1303
enlargec1380
augmenta1400
accrease1402
alargea1425
amply?a1425
great?1440
hainc1440
creasec1475
grow1481
amplea1500
to get upa1500
improve1509
ampliatea1513
auge1542
over1546
amplify1549
raise1583
grand1602
swell1602
magnoperate1610
greaten1613
accresce1626
aggrandize1638
majoratea1651
adauge1657
protend1659
reinforce1660
examplify1677
pluralize1750
to drive up1817
to whoop up1856
to jack up1884
upbuild1890
steepen1909
up1934
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [verb (transitive)] > increase the intensity of
multiplya1398
sharpenc1450
heighten1523
height1528
strengthen1546
aggravate1549
enhance1559
intend1603
enrich1620
re-enforce1625
wheel1632
reinforce1660
support1691
richen1795
to give a weight to1796
intensify1817
exalt1850
intensate1856
to step up1920
to hot up1937
ramp1981
1660 R. Allestree Gentlemans Calling 135 The loud noise of roaring Mirth is reinforced to drown that poor whisper of Conscience.
1664 J. Playford Brief Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 4) i. 64 Exclamation properly is..but the slacking of the Voyce to reinforce it somewhat.
1684 R. Waller tr. Ess. Nat. Exper. Acad. del Cimento 80 We reinforced the Cold by a great quantity of fresh Snow and Salt.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits x. 160 They have reinforced their own productivity, by the creation of that marvellous machinery.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 May 1/3 These primary or laryngeal vocal tones are reinforced by..the portion of the larynx above the vocal cords, the upper throat or pharynx, the nose, and the mouth.
1926 Encycl. Brit. II. 980/2 So-called servo brakes, in which the momentum of the car was utilised to reinforce the effort of the driver in applying the brake.
1990 Birder's World Aug. 36/3 The Audubon legend remains vibrant and alive—new books about his life and work reinforce his stature.
4.
a. transitive. To renew or repeat with fresh force; to reiterate. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > repeating > repeat (an action) [verb (transitive)] > repeat with fresh force
reinforce1567
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxv. f. 229 She..threw hir self vpon hir bed, where she began to reinforce hir dolor after so strange fashion, as the most constant would haue bene moued to pitie.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xx. 72 Rallying all into one body, they re-inforced the fight.
a1662 P. Heylyn Cyprianus Angl. (1671) ii. 238 The same offer was reinforced a fortnight after.
1704 J. Trapp Abra-Mule iv. i. 40 To morrow I'll visit her, and reinforce my Suit.
b. transitive. To direct with renewed force. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Of Benefits ii. xvii, in tr. Seneca Wks. 28 Then doth the ball keepe his due course, when as betwixt the hands of both the gamesters, it fitly flyeth to and fro, being serued by the one, and reinforced backe againe by the other.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 4 Cry'd strange!—then reinforced his Light Against the Moon with all his Might.
5. transitive. To constrain or impel again. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > again
reinforce1595
1595 Blanchardine & Eglantine ii. ix. sig. Gv He determined still to perseuer therein, hoping in time, through want and defect of victualls, they should bee reinforced to yeeld.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 172 Till young Abdul was reinforced to revenge his Father's Death.
6. transitive. To enforce again. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > to perform or adhere to > again
reinforce1640
1640 Lenthall in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 19 To manifest to the World, that Our retirements were to reinforce a greater Unity and Duty.
1656 Ld. Whitlock in T. Burton Diary (1828) I. 194 Let the old order be reinforced, and Wednesday sennight be the day.
1668 A. Marvell Let. 7 Mar. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 67 [To] attend his Majesty desiring him to reinforce..the Laws against Conventicles.
1720 Waterland Defence Div. Christ in Wks. (1823) II. 105 It pleased God..to proclaim the high dignity of God the Son, to reinforce his rightful claim of homage.
1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. iii. iv. 61 Adored be thy goodness, for repeating and reinforcing the laws and the religion of thy creation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1648
v.c1485