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perforce

perforce

3 8.9
Because the situation makes it necessary
  • adverb
  • /pərˈfɔrs/
  • Formal
: necesariamente
  • In this land, they encountered people whose herds were migratory, and so, perforce, were the herders.

So doubly seconded with will and power must make perforce a universal prey and last eat up himself.

Examples

  • So doubly seconded with will and power must make perforce a universal prey and last eat up himself.

  • Nevertheless, because the chairman's exposure to political bashing has perforce increased, our nation's defense against inflation has actually grown more fragile.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Ugly situations can ensue when these people are perforce given direct reports.

    Blog text (2)
  • Mr. Hawkins, moving perforce to avoid my stepping on him, backed away, still talking.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I would consider China's weak-yuan policy to make sense as long as they are seeking to buy oil in international markets that are perforce priced in dollars.

    Blog text (24)
  • She follows perforce, weeping to the polis and the gatherings of people.

  • The South African national liberation struggle—in essence a struggle for self-determination, for democracy, for the right to self-representation—has perforce been a violent one too.

    Academic text (1996)
  • But though their quaint, antiquated billing and cooing was a pleasing enough thing to watch, it is notorious that even in these second bridal journeys the outsider is very much outside, and I was driven back perforce to my window.

    Blog text (22)
  • Due to the storm, we were perforce forced to cancel our outdoor plans.

  • The meeting was perforce postponed until everyone could attend.

Synonyms

necessarily
vsperforce
∞ 3.7

In a way that cannot be avoided

is necessity caused by circumstances rather than general inevitability
ipso facto
vsperforce
  • Formal
6 8.9

As a direct result of that fact

is necessity caused by circumstances rather than logical consequence

Surface Forms

perforce positive

Morphology

perforce = force (semi-transparent) = per + force

The components 'per' + 'force' are historically correct and recognizable, but the adverb is somewhat archaic/idiomatic so the exact sense 'necessarily' is not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

The word perforce comes from the parts per- meaning 'by' or 'through' and force meaning 'power' or 'strong pressure'. So perforce is used when something must happen because the situation 'forces' it to.