Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FOR-CI-BLE, a.

1. Powerful; strong; mighty; as, a punishment forcible to bridle sin. Hooker.
2. Violent; impetuous; driving forward with force; as, a forcible stream.
3. Efficacious; active; powerful. Sweet smells are most forcible in dry substances, when broken. Bacon.
4. Powerful; acting with force; impressive; as, forcible words or arguments.
5. Containing force; acting by violence; as, forcible means.
6. Done by force; suffered by force. The abdication of James, his advocates hold to have been forcible. Swift.
7. Valid; binding; obligatory. [Not used.] Johnson.
8. In law, forcible entry is an actual violent entry into houses or lands. Forcible detainer, is a violent withholding of the lands, &c. of another from his possession. Forcible abduction, is the act of taking away wrongfully, as a child without the consent of the father, a ward without the consent of the guardian, or any person contrary to his or her will. Blackstone.