að, [O. H. G. dwingan; mid.H. G. twinge; Germ. zwingen; Dan. tvinge; þvinga and þungr (q. v.) are, we believe, kindred words]:—to weigh down, oppress; þvingar móðrinn harði, a grief weighs me down, Skáld H. 7. 9; mig hefir þvingað manna lát, 5. 14; sárliga þvinguð, Mirm. (Ed.) 210.

II. reflex., en vér þvingumz á sex dögum ok þrjátigi, Stj. 148; þenna mann þvingaðan mörgum hugrenningum, burdened with many concerns, Th. 2; móðurinnar kvið, svá sem hann er þvingaðr (loaded) ok fullr af burðinum, Stj. 80. This word is rare in old writers, but freq. in mod. usage since the Reformation. The metaph. sense, to compel, has been introduced through the Germ. word.