Nearby Words

buttressed

[buh-tris] Origin

but·tress

[buh-tris]
noun
1.
any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
2.
any prop or support.
3.
a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.
4.
a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.
verb (used with object)
5.
to support by a buttress; prop up.
6.
to give encouragement or support to (a person, plan, etc.).

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Buttressed is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English butresOld French (arc) boterez thrusting (arch) nominative singular of boteret (accusative), equivalent to boter- abutment (perhaps < Germanic; see butt3) + -et -et

but·tress·less, adjective
but·tress·like, adjective
non·but·tressed, adjective
un·but·tressed, adjective


6. encourage, hearten, support, inspirit, brace, back up, reinforce, shore up.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To buttressed
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

buttress
early 14c., from O.Fr. botrez "flying buttress," lit. "buttressed," pl. of boteret "support," from bouter "to thrust against," of Frankish origin (cf. O.N. bauta "to strike, beat"), from P.Gmc. *butan, from PIE base *bhau- "to strike" (see butt (v.)). The verb is from late 14c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature