Perforce is a word that is often misspelled due to its unusual pronunciation. It is pronounced /pərˈfɔːs/ and is spelled with the letter 'E' after the 'R' and before the 'F'. This is because the word is derived from the Middle English phrase 'par force', which means 'by force' or 'of necessity'. The 'E' in the spelling represents the original French word 'par' which means 'by' or 'through'. So next time you're spelling perforce, remember the French influence and the phonetic pronunciation /pərˈfɔːs/.
Perforce is an adverb that describes an action or an occurrence that is inevitable or necessary due to circumstances or factors beyond one's control. It is derived from a combination of the Middle English word "per" meaning "by" and "force" referring to a compelling or irrefutable influence.
When something is done perforce, it implies that it is done as an unavoidable option or requirement rather than a choice. It suggests that there is no alternative course of action available, compelling the person to act in a particular way. This could be due to external pressures or constraints, the absence of alternatives, or a strong necessity.
For example, if someone is running late for an important meeting and encounters heavy traffic, they might perforce take an alternate route to their destination, as there is no other viable option to reach on time. Similarly, a person might perforce accept a job offer in a different city due to financial or professional reasons, even if they wanted to stay where they currently reside.
The term "perforce" carries a sense of inevitability and lack of choice, highlighting the notion that the situation or circumstances leave one with no other practical option but to act in a specific manner.
By force; violently.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "perforce" originated from the combination of two Middle English words: "per" and "force".
1. "Per" comes from the Latin word "per", meaning "through" or "by means of".
2. "Force" is derived from the Old French word "forcier", which means "to reinforce" or "convince".
When combined, "perforce" essentially means "by force" or "by necessity". It implies that something is done or achieved out of necessity or by compulsion.