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Fortify
Definitions
- 1 To give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen. transitive
"[I]t [“oleum de costo”] fortifyeth yͤ ſtomack and Lyuer, it keepeth the hayre from fallyng of, & the head from horeneſſe [hoaryness], it cauſeth good colour, and ſauour in all the body."
- 2 make strong or stronger wordnet
- 3 To support (one's or someone's opinion, statement, etc.) by producing evidence, etc.; to confirm, to corroborate. transitive
"And vnto that texte he wold haue made you a gloſe, that his father and he were one not in ſubſtaunce but in will. And that gloſe he would haue fortified and made ſomewhat ſemely with an other worde of Chriſt, […]"
- 4 add alcohol to (beverages) wordnet
- 5 To increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins. transitive
"Soy milk is often fortified with calcium."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 add nutrients to wordnet
- 7 To impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage. figuratively, transitive
"[H]er ovvne proofe taught her to knovv her mothers minde; vvhich […] greatly fortified her deſires, to ſee, that her mother had the like deſires. And the more iealous her mother was, the more ſhe thought the Ievvell precious, vvhich vvas vvith ſo many lookes garded."
- 8 prepare oneself for a military confrontation wordnet
- 9 To make (something) defensible against attack by hostile forces. figuratively, transitive
"For if they fell upon one kind of ſtrictneſſe, unleſſe their cure vvere equall to regulat all other things of like aptnes to corrupt the mind, that ſingle endeavour they knevv vvould be but a fond labour; to ſhut and fortifie one gate againſt corruption, and be neceſſitated to leave others round about vvide open."
- 10 enclose by or as if by a fortification wordnet
- 11 To make (something) structurally strong; to strengthen. archaic, transitive
"The third manner of hunting is done vvith leſſer labour: that is, foure ſtrong men armed vvith ſhields, and fortified all ouer vvith thonges of leather, and hauing helmets vpon their heades, that onely their eyes, noſes, and lips may appeare, vvith the brandiſhing of their firebrands ruſtle in vpon the lyon lying in his den: […]"
- 12 To increase the defences of (an army, soldiers, etc.), or put (it or them) in a defensive position. transitive
"Ile haue you learne to ſleepe vpon the ground, / March in your armor thorow watery fens, / […] / Then next, the way to fortifie your men, / In champion grounds, […]"
- 13 To secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works. transitive
"But Baſilius (having bene the last day ſomevvhat vnprouided) novv had better fortified the ouerthrovvne ſconſe; and so vvell had prepared every thing for defence, that it vvas impoſſible for any valour from vvithin, to prevaile."
- 14 To provide (a city, a fortress, an army, etc.) with equipment or soldiers. obsolete, transitive
"At the ſame time, I fortified my ſelf vvith the French Captain, and the Supra Cargo, and the other Captain; […]"
- 15 To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content. transitive
"Sherry is made by fortifying wine."
- 16 To install fortifications or other military works; also (sometimes figurative), to put up a defensive position. intransitive
"[…] I vvill vvithdravv my ſelfe to the Riuer, & there fortifie for fiſh: for there reſteth no minute free from fight."
- 17 To become strong; to strengthen. intransitive, obsolete
"But the poets and vvriters of Hiſtories are the beſt Doctors of this knovvledge, vvhere vve may finde painted fourth vvith greate life, Hovv affections are kindled and incyted: and hovv pacified and reſtrained: and hovv againe Conteyned from Act, & furder degree: hovv they diſcloſe themſelues, hovv they vvork hovv they varye, hovv they gather and fortifie, hovv they are invvrapped one vvithin another, a[n]d hovve they doe fighte and encounter one vvith another, and other the like particularityes: […]"
- 18 To undergo, or cause to undergo, fortition. ambitransitive
Etymology
From Late Middle English fortifien, fortfien (“to strengthen (a castle, etc.) from attack; to strengthen (an army, etc.); to strengthen (a person), aid, support; to reinforce, support; to improve; to increase the efficacy of”), from Old French fortifier (modern French fortifier), from Late Latin fortificāre (“to strengthen, fortify”), from Latin fortis (“powerful, strong”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to ascend, rise up; to be elevated or up high”) or *dʰerǵʰ- (“to be firm; robust, strong”)) + -ficō (suffix forming causative or factitive, or other verbs).
See also for "fortify"
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