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Full Idea
I define 'force' to be the impetus or quickness of motion multiplied either into itself, or into the magnitude of the movent, by means of which whereof the said movent works more or less upon the body that resists it.
Clarification
The 'movent' seems to be what does the moving
Gist of Idea
'Force' is the quantity of movement imposed on something
Source
Thomas Hobbes (De Corpore (Elements, First Section) [1655], 3.15.02)
Book Ref
Hobbes,Thomas: 'Metaphysical Writings', ed/tr. Calkins,Mary Whiton [Open Court 1905], p.100
A Reaction
Not very helpful, perhaps, but it shows a view of force at quite an early date, well before Newton.