Fortify

v. [ad. F. fortifier, ad. L. fortificare, f. fortis strong + -ficare: see -FY.]

  I.  To make strong.

  1.  trans. To strengthen structurally. Now somewhat rare.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 187. He made to a-mende and fortyfie the wallis of the town ther, as thei were most feble.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 259.

1726.  Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., II. 113/2. They shou’d also be fortifyed all round with strong brick work.

1886.  Willis & Clark, Cambridge, III. 545. In 1757 we find him at Ely Cathedral repairing and fortifying the wood-work of the Dome and Lantern.

  b.  spec. To strengthen (a gun) by additional thickness of metal. Cf. FORTIFICATION 5 c. Also, to strengthen (a ship) for especial emergency, by means of additional timbers, etc.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiv. 71. For small Ordnance is called corne Powder fine, and ought to haue in strength a quarter more, because those small Peeces are better fortified than the greater.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. 62. You must work as if the Piece were fortified no more than only so much as the thinnest part of the Metal is.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 508. The new ship … is fortified within the bow.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xv. (1856), 112. She was heeled over, and fortified with three additional strips of boiler iron, extending back from her cut-water to her beam.

  c.  To cover or bind with some protective material or appliance. (Now colored by senses 7–8.)

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 372. The third manner of hunting is done with lesser labour: that is, four strong men armed with shields, and fortified all over with thongs of leather, and having helmets upon their heads, that only their eyes, noses, and lips may appear.

1669.  Boyle, Contn. New Exp., II. (1682), 21. A little [air] brake into the Reciever … because I had neglected to fortifie the cover with Turpentine.

1697.  J. Potter, Antiq. Greece, III. xv. (1715), 130. The whole Fabrick being completed, it was fortified with Pitch to secure the Wood from the Waters.

1706.  Hearne, Collect., 7 Feb. Being us’d to fortifie himself against weather by several Caps upon his Head, a thick Robe, and a large leathern Girdle.

1798.  W. Blair, The Soldier’s Friend, 44. Ingenious modes of fortifying shoes, and rendering them water-proof.

1803.  Wellington, 20 Jan., in Gurw., Desp., I. 397. For the Europeans we ought to have 10,000 gallons of arrack, in kegs of six gallons each, well fortified with iron hoops.

1850.  Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. v. 193. Camillus introduced the helmet of brass or iron, and fortified the shield with a rim of metal, to turn the edge of the heavy but untempered Gualish sword.

  2.  To impart strength or vigor to (the body, its organs, or powers, † a plant); to give (a person, oneself) strength or endurance for some effort.

14[?].  Lydg. & Burgh, Secrees, 1959.

1578.  Lyle, Dodoens, II. lxxi. 241. It doth fortefie and strengthen the harte.

1686.  W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Course Chem., II. xxii. (ed. 3), 624. The Turks will take of it [opium] to the bigness of a hazle Nut to fortifie themselves when they are going to fight.

1691.  Ray, Creation, Ded. (1704), 3. To fortifie you in your Athletic Conflicts.

1719.  London & Wise, The Complete Gard’ner, VIII. 212. We endeavour to fortifie it [wild-endive], and make it grow big all Summer, by watering and cropping it.

1849.  Claridge, Cold Water-cure, 42. Cold water, as a beverage, fortifies the stomach and intestines, by clearing them of the bad juices they contain.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xiii. Mr. Inspector, hastily fortifying himself with another glass, strolled out with a noiseless foot and an unoccupied countenance.

  † 3.  To render more powerful or effective; to strengthen, reinforce with additional resources or cooperation; to garrison (a fortress); to provide (an army, etc.) with necessaries. Obs.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. xviii. They had of other men of werre moo than eyght thousand for to fortyfye alle the fortresses in the marches of Cornewaylle.

1480.  Robt. Devyll, in Thoms, Prose Rom., I. 5–6. He euer prayed to God to sende hym a chylde, to honoure and serue God, and to multyply and fortyfy his lynage.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. lxxii. 94. [The countesse] fortifyed all her garisons of euery thyng y^t they wanted.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (an. 31), 165. He fortified Burdeaux with Englishmen and victayle.

1612.  Woodall, The Surgeons Mate, Wks. (1653), 190. It fortifieth the other medicines, and doubleth their forces.

1670.  Cotton, Espernon, X. II. 69. The Plot was to have been executed by the Scholars, under whose name the Inhabitants of the Suburbs of St. Germains were order’d to slip in to fortifie the attempt.

1701.  Swift, Contests Nobles & Com., Wks. 1755, II. I. 11. They admitted three thousand into a share of the government; and thus fortified, became the cruellest tyranny upon record.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 28. I fortified myself with the French captain, and the supercargo, and the other captain.

  b.  To arm, strengthen with weapons. Cf. 7. rare.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 121, 19 July, ¶ 3. That great Variety of Arms with which Nature has differently fortifyed the Bodies of several kind of Animals, such as Claws, Hoofs and Horns, Teeth and Tusks, a Tail, a Sting, a Trunk, or a Proboscis.

  4.  To strengthen (liquors) with alcohol.

1880.  Act 43 & 44 Vict., c. 24 § 70. Any spirits warehoused in an Excise or Customs warehouse, except British compounds, may be used in the warehouse for fortifying wines.

1894.  C. N. Robinson, Brit. Fleet, 142. In 1869 the present practice of fortifying the [lime] juice with rum was resorted to.

  5.  a. To strengthen mentally or morally; to endow with immaterial resources; to impart fortitude to; to cheer, encourage.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 19. It apparteigneth to euery man with all his power to seke science and ther with to fortiffie hym hauyng a good eye vpon his enemyes.

1573.  Baret, Alv., F 948. To haue a hart fortified with wisedome.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1629), 111. Which (as no error giues so strong assault, as that which comes armed in the authoritie of a parent, so) greatly fortified her desires, to see, that her mother had the like desires.

1699.  Locke, Educ., § 70. 100. A young Man, before he leaves the shelter of his Father’s House, should be fortified with Resolution to secure his Vertue.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 155, 10 Sept., ¶ 8. Every delay gives vice another opportunity of fortifying itself by habit.

1761.  Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxiii. 69. The king, every where triumphant, and fortified by this unsuccessful attempt to dethrone him, ventured at last to summon a parliament.

a. 1794.  Gibbon, Life, viii. (1839), 238. Timidity was fortified by pride, and even the success of my pen discouraged the trial of my voice.

1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., vii. (1875), 269. They unanimously refused to desert or survive their beloved master, and their courage was fortified by a fervent prayer and the assurance of paradise.

  b.  To confirm, corroborate, add support to (a statement, etc.). To fortify oneself: to confirm one’s statement, etc. † Also (rarely) intr. for refl.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 285. To fortofie and strength the same badde answere.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 164/1. That glose he would haue fortified and made somewhat semely with an other worde of Christ.

c. 1532.  Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1063. My lorde the President fortifyeng sayd that we be nat bounde by the lawe to say.

1678.  Trans. Crt. Spain, 5. To fortifie his Reasons, he sent us a Manifesto.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. v. 96. Till there is a distinct charge is brought against you, fortified by particulars.

1847.  Emerson, Repr. Men, Plato, Wks. (Bohn), I. 295. If he made transcendental distinctions, he fortified himself by drawing all his illustrations from sources disdained by orators and polite conversers; from mares and puppies; from pitchers and soup-ladles; from cooks and criers; the shops of potters, horse-doctors, butchers and fishmongers.

  † 6.  intr. To gain strength, grow strong. Obs.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xxii. § 6. But the poets and writers of histories are the best doctors of this knowledge; where we may find painted forth with great life, how affections are kindled and incited; and how pacified and refrained; and how again contained from act and further degree; how they disclose themselves, how they work, how they vary, how they gather and fortify.

1658.  Evelyn, Fr. Gard. (1675), 165. You may cut uncessantly, leaving the least to bear seed, and that the plant may fortifie.

1660.  Sharrock, Vegetables, 126. Binde them up by handfuls, as they grow promiscuously, but the strongest and forwardest first, letting the other fortifie.

  II.  To strengthen against attack.

  7.  trans. To provide (a town or its walls) with defensive works; to protect with fortifications.

1436.  Political Poems (Rolls), II. 166.

1485.  Caxton, Charles the Grete 165. The walles of that cyte ben made of marble cymented and fortefyed with toures.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., lvii. 120. All their houses well fortified with sundry trenches round about.

1611.  Bible, Isa. xxii. 10. Ye haue numbred the houses of Ierusalem, and the houses haue yee broken downe to fortifie the wall.

1759.  Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. II. 152. These were immediately commanded to fortify Leith.

1816.  Keatinge, Trav. (1817), I. 86. It is environed with walls, but not regularly fortified.

1893.  Academy, 13 May, 411/2. The opposite bank … was admirably fortified.

  transf.  1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 111. This isle is fortified with the mount Prion.

1705.  Addison, Italy, 8. The chief of them [Towns] is situate on a Rock which runs out into the Sea, and is well fortified by Nature.

1726.  Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., II. 121/1. A Pier … to fortifie a Port.

  fig.  1548.  Hall, Chron., Rich. III. (an. 5), 42 b. Realmes and countries are fortified and munited with a double power.

1644.  Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 50. To shut and fortifie one gate against corruption, and be necessitated to leave others round about wide open.

1775.  Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 31. His house is fortified by the law, and that nothing can be taken from him but by his own consent.

1850.  Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. ix. 355. While he dazzled them with the lustre of his splendid achievements, and tempered with kindness and affability the haughtiness of military command, he secured an indemnity for the boldness with which he had multiplied his legions beyond the limits fixed by the government, and fortified his position against the malevolence of a future consul.

  8.  To surround (an army, oneself) with defences; to put in a position of defence.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V. (an. 3), 48 b. The fotemen were hedged about with the stakes … This device of fortifiyng an army was at this tyme fyrst invented.

1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., III. ii.

1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. 47. Here they proceeded to fortify themselves, intending to remain here, and give their horses an opprtunity to recruit their strength with good pasturage.

  9.  intr. To erect foitifications; to establish a position of defence.

1570–6.  Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent (1826), 185. Sailing up the River of Thamise, he fortifieth at Middleton.

a 1612.  Sir R. Cecil, Letter, in Naunton, Fragmenta Regalia (Arb.), 61. They will first fortifie and learn the strength of the Rebels, before they dare take the field.

1774.  Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 293. No people will give themselves the trouble of fortifying amidst the security of friends.

a. 1885.  U. S. Grant, Personal Mem., I. 331. The enemy was fortifying at Corinth.

  transf. and fig.  1591.  Lyly, Endym., I. iii. Now will I march into the fielde, where if I cannot encounter with my foule enemies, I will withdraw my selfe to the Riuer, & there fortifie for fish.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn. lxiii.

  Hence Fortifying ppl. a.

1863.  W. B. Jerrold, Signals of Distress, 22. This soup, made of sound and fortifying materials, is distributed daily to destitute applicants, who apply in numbers ranging from 800 to 1000.

1872.  Bagehot, Physics & Pol. (1876), 217. What I may call the fortifying religions, that is to say, those which lay the plainest stress on the manly parts of morality—upon valour, on truth and industry—have had plainly the most obvious effect in strengthening the races which believed them, and in making those races the winning races.