fortify - Definitions from Dictionary.com

8 results for: fortify

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

for·ti·fy

Audio Help [fawr-tuh-fahy] Pronunciation Key verb, -fied, -fy·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.

2.	to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear: to fortify cotton with nylon.

3.	to make strong; impart strength or vigor to: to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.

4.	to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients: to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.

5.	to strengthen mentally or morally: to be fortified by religious faith.

6.	to confirm or corroborate: to fortify an accusation with facts.

7.	Nutrition. to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content.

8.	to add alcohol to (wine or the like).

–verb (used without object)

9.	to set up defensive works; erect fortifications.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME fortifien < MF fortifier < LL fortificāre, equiv. to L forti(s) strong + -ficāre -fy

]

—Related forms

for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjective

for·ti·fi·er, noun

for·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 3. strengthen, reinforce. 5. hearten, embolden.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
fortify

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

for·ti·fy Audio Help   (fôr'tə-fī') Pronunciation Key
v.   for·ti·fied, for·ti·fy·ing, for·ti·fies

v.   tr.
To make strong, as:

a. To strengthen and secure (a position) with fortifications.

v. intr.
To build fortifications.

[Middle English fortifien, from Old French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificāre, from Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots.]

for'ti·fi'a·ble adj., for'ti·fi'er n., for'ti·fy'ing·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fortify

1436, "provide (a town) with walls and defenses," from M.Fr. fortifier, from L.L. fortificare, from L. fortis "strong" (see fort) + facere "to make" (see factitious). Sense of "to strengthen mentally or morally" is from 1477. Meaning "add liquor or alcohol" is from 1880.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

fortify
verb
1.	make strong or stronger; "This exercise will strengthen your upper body"; "strengthen the relations between the two countries" [syn: strengthen] [ant: weaken]
2.	enclose by or as if by a fortification
3.	prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are building up on the Iraqi border" [syn: arm] [ant: demilitarise]
4.	add nutrients to; "fortified milk"
5.	add alcohol to (beverages); "the punch is spiked!" [syn: spike]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fortify1 [ˈfoːtifai] verb

to prepare (a building, city etc) for an attack by strengthening and arming it
Example: The king fortified the castle against the attacking armies.

Arabic:	يُحَصِّن، يُقَوّي
Chinese (Simplified):	加强防御
Chinese (Traditional):	加強防禦
Czech:	opevnit
Danish:	forskanse; befæste
Dutch:	versterken
Estonian:	kindlustama
Finnish:	linnoittaa
French:	fortifier
German:	befestigen
Greek:	οχυρώνω
Hungarian:	megerősít
Icelandic:	víggirða
Indonesian:	memperkuat
Italian:	fortificare

Japanese:	要塞化する
Korean:	방위를 강화하다
Latvian:	nostiprināt; nocietināt
Lithuanian:	tvirtinti, stiprinti
Norwegian:	befeste, forsterke
Polish:	obwarowywać, fortyfikować
Portuguese (Brazil):	fortificar
Portuguese (Portugal):	fortificar
Romanian:	a fortifica
Russian:	укреплять
Slovak:	opevniť
Slovenian:	utrditi
Spanish:	fortificar, fortalecer
Swedish:	befästa
Turkish:	sağlamlaştırmak

fortify2 [ˈfoːtifai] verb

to strengthen or enrich (eg food, drink)
Example: Sherry is a fortified wine.

Arabic:	مُقَوّى، غَني
Chinese (Simplified):	强化
Chinese (Traditional):	強化
Czech:	zesílit
Danish:	tilsætte; berige
Dutch:	verrijken, alcoholiseren
Estonian:	kontsentreerima, rikastama
Finnish:	väkevöidä
French:	augmenter la teneur en alcool (de)
German:	verbessern
Greek:	ενισχύω, εμπλουτίζω
Hungarian:	megerősít
Icelandic:	styrkja
Indonesian:	memperkaya
Italian:	irrobustire, rendere alcolico*

Japanese:	強化する
Korean:	강화하다, (영양가·농도를) 높이다
Latvian:	(par vīnu) stiprināt
Lithuanian:	didinti maistingumą, spirituoti, vitaminizuoti
Norwegian:	tilsette (vitaminer, alkohol o.l.), berike
Polish:	wzmacniać, wzbogacać
Portuguese (Brazil):	aumentar o teor alcoólico de
Portuguese (Portugal):	fortificar
Romanian:	a adăuga alcool (în)
Russian:	обогащать; делать креплёным
Slovak:	zvýšiť percento alkoholu, obohatiť
Slovenian:	ojačen
Spanish:	enriquecer
Swedish:	förskära, berika
Turkish:	etkisini artırmak

See also: fortification

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fortify

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 to resist attack.

Timidity was fortified by pride. --Gibbon.

Pride came to the aid of fancy, and both combined to fortify his resolution. --Sir W. Scott.

2. 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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Fortify

For"ti*fy\, v. i. To raise defensive works. --Milton.

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