fortify

present singular third person fortifies · participle present fortifying · participle past fortified · past fortified · first person past singular fortified · archaic present second person singular fortifiest · past second person singular fortified · archaic past second person singular fortifiedst · present singular third person fortifies · archaic present singular third person fortifieth · past singular third person fortified · past plural fortified · past subjunctive fortified · participle present fortifying · participle past fortified

1. transitiveTo give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen.

   In the day I called, Thou [God] answeredst me; / Thou fortifiedst me with strength in my soul.

   1863, “Psalm CXXXVIII [Verse 3]”, in W[illiam] Kay, transl., The Psalms, Translated from the Hebrew, […], Calcutta, West Bengal: R. C. Lepage and Co., →OCLC, page 304

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   [I]t [“oleum de costo”] fortifyeth yͤ ſtomack and Lyuer, it keepeth the hayre from fallyng of, & the head from horeneſſe [hoaryness], it cauſeth good colour, and ſauour in all the body.

   1562, William Bullein, “The Booke of Compoundes”, in Bulleins Bulwarke of Defence against All Sicknesse, Soarenesse, and Woundes that Doo Dayly Assaulte Mankinde: […], London: […] Thomas Marshe, […], published 1579, →OCLC, folio 15, verso

   […] I preſum'd it vvill not be unvvelcome to Your Lordſhip, if I here fortifie the Speculations that have been or may be propos'd to explicate theſe things according to the Hypotheſis of the vveight of the Air, by vvhat vve tried to that purpoſe, among others, vvhen vve vvere making uſe of a Syringe in our Engine.

   1669, Robert Boyle, “Experiment XXXII. Shewing, that when the Pressure of the External Air is Taken off, tis Very Easie to Draw up the Sucker of a Syringe, though the Hole, at which the Air or Water should Succeed, be Stopp’d.”, in A Continuation of New Experiments Physico-Mechanical, Touching the Spring and Weight of the Air, and Their Effects. The I. Part. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Henry Hall, printer to the University, for Richard Davis, →OCLC, page 107

   [T]hey admitted three thouſand into a ſhare of the Government; and thus fortified, became the cruelleſt Tyranny upon Record.

   1701, [Jonathan Swift], “Chapter I”, in A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions between the Nobles and the Commons in Athens and Rome, with the Consequences They Had upon Both Those States, London: […] John Nutt […], →OCLC, page 8

   Nor must we here omit that great variety of arms with which Nature has differently fortified the bodies of several kinds of animals; such as claws, hoofs, horns, teeth, and tusks, a tail, a sting, a trunk, or a proboscis.

   1711 July 29 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “WEDNESDAY, July 19, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 121; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 144

   Thou [poverty] fortifiest the body, thou strengthenest the soul; and thanks to thee, this life to which the rich cling to as a rock, becomes as a skiff whose anchor death can part without awakening our despair.

   1873 February, Émile Souvestre, “What One Learns Looking Out of a Window”, in A. W. C., transl., edited by [Roderick] Noble, The Cape Monthly Magazine, volume VI (New Series), Cape Town, Cape Colony: J. C. Juta, →OCLC, page 96

2. transitiveTo support (one's or someone's opinion, statement, etc.) by producing evidence, etc.; to confirm, to corroborate.

   [I]t may ſerue for no ſmal iuſtification of the tranſlatour that he fortifyeth his tranſlation vvith the authority of ſuch an auncient manuſcript, vvritten aboue eleuen hundred yeares ago, […]

   1621, Thomas Fitzherbert, chapter VII, in The Obmutesce of F. T. to the Epphata of D. [Samuel] Collins. Or The Reply of F. T. to D. Collins His Defence of My Lord of Winchesters Answere to Cardinall [Robert] Bellarmines Apology. […], [Saint-Omer, France]: [English College Press], →OCLC, paragraph 44, pages 211–212

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   And vnto that texte he wold haue made you a gloſe, that his father and he were one not in ſubſtaunce but in will. And that gloſe he would haue fortified and made ſomewhat ſemely with an other worde of Chriſt, […]

   1528, Thomas More, “A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. Chapter XXVI.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book I, page 164, column 1

   If he made transcendental distinctions, he fortified himself by drawing all his illustrations from sources disdained by orators and polite conversers; from mares and puppies; from pitchers and soup-ladles; from cooks and criers; the shops of potters, horse-doctors, butchers, and fishmongers.

   1850, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Plato; or, The Philosopher”, in Representative Men: Seven Lectures, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, […], →OCLC, page 58

3. transitiveTo increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins.First known use mid 20th c.

   Soy milk is often fortified with calcium.

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   Compare the nutrition information label of a regular ready-to-eat fortified cereal with that of a presweetened brand and you'll note that, although the sweetened one's sugar content is higher, the fortification is virtually identical.

   1979 July, “What’s in Cereals”, in Sidney Sulkin, editor, Changing Times: The Kiplinger Magazine, volume 33, number 7, Washington, D.C.: Austin H. Kiplinger, Kiplinger Washington Editors, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 47, column 1

4. figurativelytransitiveTo impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage.

   I vvas not armed by Nature and education vvith the intrepid energy of mind and voice. […] Timidity vvas fortified by pride, and even the ſucceſs of my pen diſcouraged the trial of my voice.

   a. 1795 (date written), Edward Gibbon, “Memoirs of My Life and Writings”, in John Lord Sheffield [i.e., John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield], editor, Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, Esquire. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Strahan, and T[homas] Cadell Jun. and W[illiam] Davies, (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell), […], published 1796, →OCLC, page 146

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   [H]er ovvne proofe taught her to knovv her mothers minde; vvhich […] greatly fortified her deſires, to ſee, that her mother had the like deſires. And the more iealous her mother was, the more ſhe thought the Ievvell precious, vvhich vvas vvith ſo many lookes garded.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 4”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 117, recto

   […] I had rather vvrite of you to others, to provoke them to imitate ſo excellent an Example, than to your Self, to encourage you in your Chriſtian Courſe, and to fortifie you in your Athletick Conflicts vvith the greateſt of temporal Evils, bodily Pain and Anguiſh; […]

   1691, John Ray, “To the Much Honoured and Truly Religious Lady, the Lady Letice Wendy of Wendy in Cambridgeshire”, in The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC

   A young Man, before he leaves the ſhelter of his Father's Houſe and the guard of a Tutor, ſhould be fortified vvith Reſolution, and made acquainted vvith Men, to ſecure his Vertue; leſt he ſhould be led into ſome ruinous courſe, or fatal precipice, before he is ſufficiently acquainted vvith the Dangers of Converſation, and has Steadineſs enough not to yield to every Temptation.

   1695, [John Locke], “§70”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education. […], 3rd edition, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC, pages 98–99

   [E]very delay gives vice another opportunity of fortifying itſelf by habit, and the change of manners, though ſincerely intended and rationally planned, is referred to the time vvhen ſome craving paſſion ſhall be fully gratified, or ſome povverful allurement ceaſe its importunity.

   1751 September 20 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 155. Monday, September 10. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VI, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1751, →OCLC, page 181

   The princeſs fell immediately into cloſe connexions vvith the cardinal and his party, the dukes of Somerſet, Suffolk, and Buckingham; vvho, fortified by her povverful friendſhip, reſolved on the final ruin of the duke of Gloceſter.

   1762, David Hume, “[Henry VI.] Chapter XX.”, in The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Cæsar to the Accession of Henry VII, volume II, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 355

5. figurativelytransitiveTo make (something) defensible against attack by hostile forces.

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   For if they fell upon one kind of ſtrictneſſe, unleſſe their cure vvere equall to regulat all other things of like aptnes to corrupt the mind, that ſingle endeavour they knevv vvould be but a fond labour; to ſhut and fortifie one gate againſt corruption, and be neceſſitated to leave others round about vvide open.

   1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 16

   It is, ſay the American advocates, the natural diſtinction of a freeman, and the legal privilege of an Engliſhman, that he is able to call his poſſeſſions his ovvn, that he can ſit ſecure in the enjoyment of inheritance or acquiſition, that his houſe is fortified by the lavv, and that nothing can be taken from him but by his ovvn conſent.

   1775, [Samuel Johnson], Taxation No Tyranny, an Answer to the Resolutions and Address of the American Congress, London: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 31

6. archaictransitiveTo make (something) structurally strong; to strengthen.

   If little things vvith great vve may compare, / Such are the Bees, and ſuch their native Care; / […] / To fortify the Combs, to build the VVall, / To prop the Ruins leſt the Fabrick fall: […]

   1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 130, lines 256–257 and 262–263

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   The third manner of hunting is done vvith leſſer labour: that is, foure ſtrong men armed vvith ſhields, and fortified all ouer vvith thonges of leather, and hauing helmets vpon their heades, that onely their eyes, noſes, and lips may appeare, vvith the brandiſhing of their firebrands ruſtle in vpon the lyon lying in his den: […]

   1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Lyon”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 478

7. transitivegovernmentTo increase the defences of (an army, soldiers, etc.), or put (it or them) in a defensive position.

   Ile haue you learne to ſleepe vpon the ground, / March in your armor thorow watery fens, / […] / Then next, the way to fortifie your men, / In champion grounds, […]

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The Second Part […], 2nd edition, part 2, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii, signature G4, recto

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   They […] descended Snake river again, and encamped just above the American falls. Here they proceeded to fortify themselves, intending to remain here, and give their horses an opportunity to recruit their strength with good pasturage, until it should be time to set out for the annual rendezvous in Bear river valley.

   1837, Washington Irving, chapter XI, in The Rocky Mountains: Or, Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Far West; […], volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: [Henry Charles] Carey, [Isaac] Lea, & Blanchard, →OCLC, page 120

8. transitivegovernmentTo secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works.First known use early 15th c.

   And ye haue numbred the houſes of Jeruſalem, and the houſes haue yee broken downe to fortifie the wall.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 22:10, column 1

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   But Baſilius (having bene the last day ſomevvhat vnprouided) novv had better fortified the ouerthrovvne ſconſe; and so vvell had prepared every thing for defence, that it vvas impoſſible for any valour from vvithin, to prevaile.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Thirde Booke] Chapter 4”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 307, recto

   Moreover Agrippa vvriteth, that this vvhole coaſt of Albanie (fortified vvith thoſe high and inacceſſible mountains of Caucaſus) containeth 425 miles.

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VI.] The Regions and People Confining upon the Scythian Ocean.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 121

   There are but Three Tovvns in the Dominions of the Prince of Monaco. The chief of 'em is ſituate on a Rock that runs out into the Sea, and is vvell fortify'd by Nature.

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Monaco, Genoa, &c.”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 8

   [B]eſides puniſhing the diſaffection of the inhabitants, by pillaging the country, the French propoſed to ſeize and fortify St. Andrevv's, and to leave there a garriſon ſufficient to bridle the mutinous ſpirit of the province, and to keep poſſeſſion of a port ſituated on the main ocean.

   1759, William Robertson, “Book III”, in The History of Scotland, during the Reigns of Queen Mary and of King James VI, till His Accession to the Crown of England. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar […], →OCLC, page 189

9. obsoletetransitivegovernmentTo provide (a city, a fortress, an army, etc.) with equipment or soldiers.

   At the ſame time, I fortified my ſelf vvith the French Captain, and the Supra Cargo, and the other Captain; […]

   1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part I”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 29

10. transitivebeveragesTo add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content.First known use late 19th c.

    Sherry is made by fortifying wine.

11. intransitivegovernmentTo install fortifications or other military works; also (sometimes figurative), to put up a defensive position.

    […] I vvill vvithdravv my ſelfe to the Riuer, & there fortifie for fiſh: for there reſteth no minute free from fight.

    c. 1588 (date written; published 1591), [John Lyly], Endimion, the Man in the Moone. […], London: […] I[ohn] Charlewood, for the widdowe Broome, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, signature C, verso

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    For ſuch a time do I novv fortifie / Againſt confounding Ages cruell knife, / That he ſhall neuer cut from memory / My ſvveet loues beauty, though my louers life.

    1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 63”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature E2, recto

    Synonyms: embattle

12. intransitiveobsoleteTo become strong; to strengthen.

    From Peare-trees grafted upon the free-ſtock you ſhould cut off the dovvn-right root, that ſo the other roots may fortifie and extend themſelves all about to ſeeke the beſt mould.

    1658, [Nicolas de Bonnefons], “[The First Treatise.] Section III. Of Trees, and of the Choice which Ought to be Made of Them.”, in John Evelyn, transl., The French Gardiner: Instructing How to Cultivate All Sorts of Fruit-trees, and Herbs for the Garden: […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[artyn] for John Crooke, […], published 1669, →OCLC, page 28

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    But the poets and vvriters of Hiſtories are the beſt Doctors of this knovvledge, vvhere vve may finde painted fourth vvith greate life, Hovv affections are kindled and incyted: and hovv pacified and reſtrained: and hovv againe Conteyned from Act, & furder degree: hovv they diſcloſe themſelues, hovv they vvork hovv they varye, hovv they gather and fortifie, hovv they are invvrapped one vvithin another, a[n]d hovve they doe fighte and encounter one vvith another, and other the like particularityes: […]

    1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio [82], recto

13. ambitransitivehuman sciencesTo undergo, or cause to undergo, fortition.