Word Study
fortify
CIDE DICTIONARY
fortify, v. t. [F. fortifier, L. fortificare; fortis strong + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Fort, and -fy.].
- To add strength to; to strengthen; to confirm; to furnish with power to resist attack. [1913 Webster]"Timidity was fortified by pride." [1913 Webster]"Pride came to the aid of fancy, and both combined to fortify his resolution." [1913 Webster]
- To strengthen and secure by forts or batteries, or by surrounding with a wall or ditch or other military works; to render defensible against an attack by hostile forces. [1913 Webster]
fortify, v. i.
To raise defensive works. Milton. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fortify, v.tr. (-ies, -ied)
1 provide or equip with defensive works so as to strengthen against attack.
2 strengthen or invigorate mentally or morally; encourage.
3 strengthen the structure of.
4 strengthen (wine) with alcohol.
5 increase the nutritive value of (food, esp. with vitamins).
1 provide or equip with defensive works so as to strengthen against attack.
2 strengthen or invigorate mentally or morally; encourage.
3 strengthen the structure of.
4 strengthen (wine) with alcohol.
5 increase the nutritive value of (food, esp. with vitamins).
Derivative
fortifiable adj. fortifier n.
Etymology
ME f. OF fortifier f. LL fortificare f. L fortis strong
THESAURUS
fortify
add to, adulterate, affirm, animate, arm, armor, armor-plate, arouse, attest, augment, authenticate, back, back up, bank, barricade, bastardize, battle, bear out, beef up, blockade, bolster, boost, brace, brace up, brisk, brisken, buck up, bulwark, buoy, buttress, case harden, castellate, certify, cheer, chirk up, circumstantiate, confirm, contaminate, corroborate, corrupt, crenellate, cut, debase, denaturalize, denature, dig in, dilute, doctor, doctor up, document, embattle, embolden, encourage, energize, enhance, enliven, enrich, entrench, exhilarate, fence, fresh up, freshen, freshen up, garrison, gird, harden, hearten, increase, invigorate, lace, man, man the garrison, mine, nerve, palisade, perk up, pick up, pollute, prepare, probate, prop, prove, quicken, rally, ratify, ready, reanimate, reassure, recreate, recruit, refresh, refreshen, regale, reinforce, reinvigorate, renew, restore, restrengthen, revive, revivify, rouse, secure, set up, shore up, spike, steel, stiffen, stimulate, stir, strengthen, substantiate, supplement, support, sustain, tamper with, temper, toughen, undergird, uphold, validate, verify, vivify, wall, warrant, water, water downROGET THESAURUS
fortify
Strength
VB be strong, be stronger, overmatch, render strong, give strength, strengthen, invigorate, brace, nerve, fortify, sustain, harden, case harden, steel, gird, screw up, wind up, set up, gird up one's loins, brace up one's loins, recruit, set on one's legs, vivify, refresh, refect, reinforce, reenforce.For further exploring for "fortify" in Webster Dictionary Online