fortify
[fawr-tuh-fahy]
- to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.
- to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear: to fortify cotton with nylon.
- to make strong; impart strength or vigor to: to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.
- to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients: to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.
- to strengthen mentally or morally: to be fortified by religious faith.
- to confirm or corroborate: to fortify an accusation with facts.
- Nutrition. to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content.
- to add alcohol to (wine or the like).
- to set up defensive works; erect fortifications.
Origin of fortify
1400–50; late Middle English fortifien < Middle French fortifier < Late Latin fortificāre, equivalent to Latin forti(s) strong + -ficāre -fy
Synonyms
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com3. strengthen, reinforce. 5. hearten, embolden.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for well-fortified
Contemporary Examples
They were the first to throw Molotov coctails and stones at police and to mount real and well-fortified barricades.
It sent chunks of concrete and other debris flying into the street outside the well-fortified compound.
U.S. Embassy Blast in Turkey ‘Act of Terror,’ Possibly Linked to SyriaMike Giglio, Dan Ephron
February 1, 2013
Historical Examples
Chapultepec was a strong, well-fortified and well-armed fort.
General ScottGeneral Marcus J. Wright
French gold and cunning diplomacy, not French valor, opened the way into the well-fortified capital.
The Story of MaltaMaturin M. Ballou
Sixteen men had charged and taken a well-fortified position held by at least one thousand Tagalog.
Bamboo TalesIra L. Reeves
Wherefore keepest thou here thine army, whilst thine enemy doth hide himself in a well-fortified place?
A Popular History of France From The Earliest TimesFrancois Pierre Guillaume Guizot
It is a well-fortified town, and is situated on the banks of a river of the same name, which are cultivated and fertile.
The Gates of IndiaThomas Holdich
well-fortified
- (of a position, garrison, city, etc) having been made defensible
- (of a person) having strengthened oneself or been strengthened physically, mentally, or morallythe police were well fortified with steaming mugs of tea
fortify
- (also intr) to make (a place) defensible, as by building walls, digging trenches, etc
- to strengthen physically, mentally, or morally
- to strengthen, support, or reinforce (a garment, structure, etc)
- to add spirits or alcohol to (wine), in order to produce sherry, port, etc
- to increase the nutritious value of (a food), as by adding vitamins and minerals
- to support or confirmto fortify an argument with facts
Word Origin
C15: from Old French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificāre, from Latin fortis strong + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for well-fortified
fortify
v.
early 15c., "increase efficacy" (of medicine); mid-15c., "provide (a town) with walls and defenses," from Old French fortifiier (14c.) "to fortify, strengthen," from Late Latin fortificare "to strengthen, make strong," from Latin fortis "strong" (see fort) + facere "to make" (see factitious).
Sense of "to strengthen mentally or morally" is from late 15c. Meaning "add liquor or alcohol" is from 1880. Related: Fortified; fortifying.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper