fortify

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰerǵʰ-“to ascend, rise up; to be elevated or up high”
2. Latin · derived fromfortis“powerful, strong”
3. Late Latin · derived fromfortificāre“to strengthen, fortify”
4. Old French · derived fromfortifier
5. Middle English · inherited fromfortifien
6. English todayfortify

From Late Middle English fortifien, fortfien (“to strengthen (a castle, etc.) from attack; to strengthen (an army, etc.); to strengthen (a person), aid, support; to reinforce, support; to improve; to increase the efficacy of”), from Old French fortifier (modern French fortifier), from Late Latin fortificāre (“to strengthen, fortify”), from Latin fortis (“powerful, strong”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to ascend, rise up; to be elevated or up high”) or *dʰerǵʰ- (“to be firm; robust, strong”)) + -ficō (suffix forming causative or factitive, or other verbs).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 20th c. To increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins.
• from early 15th c. To secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works.
• from late 19th c. To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content.