fortify

English

Verb

fortify (third-person singular simple present fortifies, present participle fortifying, simple past and past participle fortified)

1. To increase the defenses of.
2. To impart strength or vigor to.
3. To increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients.
4. To strengthen mentally or morally.
   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XXI:

     “And do you realize that in a few shakes I've got to show up at dinner and have Mrs Cream being very, very kind to me? It hurts the pride of the Woosters, Jeeves.” “My advice, sir, would be to fortify yourself for the ordeal.” “How?” “There are always cocktails, sir. Should I pour you another?” “You should.”

Translations

increase the defenses of

• Esperanto: fortigi (eo)
• Finnish: vahvistaa, linnoittaa
• French: fortifier
• German: befestigen

• Latin: corrōborō (la), firmo (la), fortifico (la)
• Polish: umocnić (pl)
• Spanish: fortalecer (es)

to impart strength or vigor to

• Finnish: vahvistaa (fi)

to increase effectiveness of

• Finnish: vahvistaa (fi), vahventaa (fi)

to strengthen mentally or morally

• Finnish: vahvistaa (fi)

Related terms

• fort
• fortification
• fortress