fortis

American  

[fawr-tis] / ˈfɔr tɪs /

adjective

1. pronounced with considerable muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in a strong fricative or explosive sound. In stressed position (p, t, k, ch, f, th, s, sh) and sometimes (h) are fortis in English as compared with (b, d, g, j, v, th̸, z, and zh), which are lenis.

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noun

• fortes
  plural

1. a fortis consonant.

fortis British  

/ ˈfɔːtɪs /

adjective

1. (of a consonant) articulated with considerable muscular tension of the speech organs or with a great deal of breath pressure or plosion

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noun

1. a consonant, such as English p or f , pronounced with considerable muscular force or breath pressure

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fortes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fortis

1905–10; < Latin: strong, powerful, firm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fortis fortes

Instead they found four other known species: V. alginolyticus, V. campbellii, V. fortis and V. parahaemolyticus.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 6, 2023

Derived from the Latin fortis, meaning "strong," it was the watchword of an extraordinary week.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dissolve an ounce of fine silver in three ounces of strong aqua fortis, in a glass bottle.

From Endless Amusement A Collection of Nearly 400 Entertaining Experiments by Unknown

Dissolve in common aqua fortis as much silver as you please.

From Endless Amusement A Collection of Nearly 400 Entertaining Experiments by Unknown

Dissolve fine silver in aqua fortis; and after the dissolution, add some distilled water in the same manner as in the gold ink.

From Endless Amusement A Collection of Nearly 400 Entertaining Experiments by Unknown

The Seahawks are particularly vulnerable because one of Carroll’s fortes is whipping his team into a frenzy.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2021

The versatile Kelly’s fortes were tap and jazz dancing, and of course he was a swell partner with Caron in his arms.

From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2017

One of Brown’s fortes was damming streams or small rivers to create meandering lakes and ponds that read as great rivers where none flowed.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 16, 2016

Her bridge fortes were timing and table presence.

From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2012

Thrale lost midst fiddles and sopranos, With them plays fortes and pianos, Adagio and allegro.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 17, No. 478, February 26, 1831 by Various