Library / English Dictionary

FORTIFY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: fortified   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make strong or stronger

Example:

strengthen the relations between the two countries

Synonyms:

beef up; fortify; strengthen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fortify" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Cause:

strengthen (gain strength)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fortify"):

vitalise; vitalize (make more lively or vigorous)

ruggedise; ruggedize (produce in a version designed to withstand rough usage)

substantiate (solidify, firm, or strengthen)

restrengthen (make strong again)

brace up; undergird (make secure underneath)

confirm (make more firm)

reenforce; reinforce (make stronger)

buttress (make stronger or defensible)

brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady (support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace)

batten (secure with battens)

batten; batten down; secure (furnish with battens)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fortification (the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment (as the addition of alcohol to wine or the addition of vitamins to food))

fortification (the art or science of strengthening defenses)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Add alcohol to (beverages)

Example:

the punch is spiked!

Synonyms:

fortify; lace; spike

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fortify" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fortification (the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment (as the addition of alcohol to wine or the addition of vitamins to food))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Add nutrients to

Example:

fortified milk

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fortify" is one way to...):

add (make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fortification (the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment (as the addition of alcohol to wine or the addition of vitamins to food))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Prepare oneself for a military confrontation

Example:

troops are building up on the Iraqi border

Synonyms:

arm; build up; fortify; gird

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fortify"):

re-arm; rearm (arm anew)

forearm (arm in advance of a confrontation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fort (a fortified military post where troops are stationed)

fortification (the art or science of strengthening defenses)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Enclose by or as if by a fortification

Synonyms:

fort; fortify

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "fortify" is one way to...):

close in; enclose; inclose; shut in (surround completely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fortify"):

trench (fortify by surrounding with trenches)

embattle (fortify by furnishing with battlements for defense)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

fort (a fortified defensive structure)

fort (a fortified military post where troops are stationed)

fortification (defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Pride forbid, and whenever the longing grew very strong, he fortified his resolution by repeating the words that had made the deepest impression—I despise you.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Foods like milk, milk products like cheese and yogurt, fatty fish like mackerel and sardines, some greens like kale and collards and fortified cereals also are good sources.

(High Doses of Vitamin D Rapidly Reduce Arterial Stiffness, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Such were the views of these experienced officers, fortified by many reminiscences and examples of French gallantry, such as the way in which the crew of the L’Orient had fought her quarter-deck guns when the main-deck was in a blaze beneath them, and when they must have known that they were standing over an exploding magazine.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Another way is through dietary supplements or eating more foods that are high in vitamin D, such as fatty fish, mushrooms, or foods fortified with vitamin D, such as bread, orange juice, or milk.

(Vitamin D may protect against pollution-associated asthma symptoms in obese children, National Institutes of Health)

Thus wisely fortifying her mind, as she proceeded upstairs, she was enabled, especially on perceiving that Miss Tilney slept only two doors from her, to enter her room with a tolerably stout heart; and her spirits were immediately assisted by the cheerful blaze of a wood fire.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I would entertain myself in forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in public and private life.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I was not sleepy, as the long sleep yesterday had fortified me; but I could not help experiencing that chill which comes over one at the coming of the dawn, which is like, in its way, the turn of the tide.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I endeavoured to crush these fears and to fortify myself for the trial which in a few months I resolved to undergo; and sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathising with my feelings and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His looks shewing him not pained, but pleased with this allusion to his situation, she was emboldened to go on; and feeling in herself the right of seniority of mind, she ventured to recommend a larger allowance of prose in his daily study; and on being requested to particularize, mentioned such works of our best moralists, such collections of the finest letters, such memoirs of characters of worth and suffering, as occurred to her at the moment as calculated to rouse and fortify the mind by the highest precepts, and the strongest examples of moral and religious endurances.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Item, that upon brother Ambrose reproving him for this blasphemous wish, he did hold the said brother face downwards over the piscatorium or fish-pond for a space during which the said brother was able to repeat a pater and four aves for the better fortifying of his soul against impending death.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)