fortify

  • 1Fortify — For ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fortified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fortifying}.] [F. fortifier, L. fortificare; fortis strong + ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Fort}, and { fy}.] 1. To add strength to; to strengthen; to confirm; to furnish with power… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2fortify — early 15c., increase efficacy (of medicine); mid 15c., provide (a town) with walls and defenses, from O.Fr. fortifiier (14c.) to fortify, strengthen, from L.L. fortificare to strengthen, make strong, from L. fortis strong (see FORT (Cf. fort)) +… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3fortify — [v1] make strong and secure; add to brace, build up, bulwark, buttress, charge up, consolidate, embattle, entrench, garrison, gird, prepare, prop, protect, punch up*, ready, reinforce, secure, shore up*, soup up*, steel*, step up, strengthen,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 4fortify — [fôrt′ə fī΄] vt. fortified, fortifying [ME fortifien < OFr fortifier < LL fortificare < L fortis, strong (see FORT1) + facere, to make, DO1] 1. to make strong or stronger; strengthen physically, emotionally, etc. 2. to strengthen against …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Fortify — For ti*fy, v. i. To raise defensive works. Milton. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6fortify — I verb assure, augment, authenticate, bolster, brace, buoy, buttress, cheer, confirm, comfort, document, embolden, encourage, endue, entrench, harden, hearten, help, inspirit, invigorate, make safe, nurture, protect, prop, ratify, reaffirm,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 7fortify — *strengthen, invigorate, energize, reinforce Analogous words: rally, *stir, arouse, rouse: stimulate, quicken (see PROVOKE): *renew, restore, refresh Antonyms: enfeeble Contrasted words: *weaken, debilitate: enervate, emasculate (see …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 8fortify — ► VERB (fortifies, fortified) 1) provide with defensive works as protection against attack. 2) invigorate or encourage. 3) add spirits to (wine) to make port, sherry, etc. 4) increase the nutritive value of (food) by adding vitamins. DERIVATIVES …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9fortify — [[t]fɔ͟ː(r)tɪfaɪ[/t]] fortifies, fortifying, fortified 1) VERB To fortify a place means to make it stronger and more difficult to attack, often by building a wall or ditch round it. [V n] ...British soldiers working to fortify an airbase in… …

    English dictionary

  • 10fortify — fortifiable, adj. fortifier, n. fortifyingly, adv. /fawr teuh fuy /, v., fortified, fortifying. v.t. 1. to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works. 2. to furnish with a means of resisting force or… …

    Universalium