fortress
Use Fortress in a sentence
trɪs noun
1.
a large fortified place; a fort or group of forts, often including a town; citadel.
2.
any place of exceptional security; stronghold.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English forteresse < Old French < Vulgar Latin *fortaricia (compare Medieval Latin fortalitia), equivalent to Latin fort(is) strong + -ar-, formative of uncertain meaning +-icia -ice
1300–50; Middle English forteresse < Old French < Vulgar Latin *fortaricia (compare Medieval Latin fortalitia), equivalent to Latin fort(is) strong + -ar-, formative of uncertain meaning +-icia -ice
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To fortress
Collins
World English Dictionary
fortress (ˈfɔːtrɪs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a large fort or fortified town |
| 2. | a place or source of refuge or support |
| —vb | |
| 3. | (tr) to protect with or as if with a fortress |
| [C13: from Old French forteresse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis strong] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Fortress
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
fortress
early 14c., from O.Fr. forteresse "strong place," variant of fortelesse, from M.L. fortalitia, from L. fortis "strong" + Eng. -ess, a fairly uncommon suffix (duress, largess being other examples), from L. -itia, forming nouns of quality or condition.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
German troops were quartered in the town medieval fortress.
Excavation revealed a giant limestone cavern beneath the fortress.
Fortress is one of the world's largest private equity and hedge fund managers.
Behind my mountain fortress was a vast desert, with nothing but cactus and a few scraggly bushes as far as the eye could see.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
