fortify

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen.
   • [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, […]...
   • […] 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...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...
2. (transitive) To support (one's or someone's opinion, statement, etc.) by producing evidence, etc.; to confirm, to corroborate.
   • 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...
   • [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...
3. (transitive) To increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins.
   • Soy milk is often fortified with calcium.
   • 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...
4. (figuratively, transitive) To impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage.
   • [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.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]...
   • […] 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: […]...
5. (figuratively, transitive) To make (something) defensible against attack by hostile forces.
   • 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...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...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. (archaic, transitive) To make (something) structurally strong; to strengthen.
   • 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...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
   • 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...
7. (transitive) To 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...
   • 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...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...
8. (transitive) To secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works.
   • 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.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]...
   • 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...
9. (obsolete, transitive) To 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. (transitive) To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content.
    • Sherry is made by fortifying wine.
11. (intransitive) To 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
    • 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. (intransitive, obsolete) To become strong; to strengthen.
    • 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...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...
    • 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...
13. (ambitransitive) To undergo, or cause to undergo, fortition.