Obs. Forms: see STRENGTH sb.; also 4 strengþi. [f. STRENGTH sb.]
1. trans. To give strength to, to make strong or stronger, to strengthen, fortify, confirm.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Luke i. 80. Soðlice se cnape weox & wæs on gaste ʓe-stræncþed.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 140. Heo temeð wel hire fulitowene fleschs, & strenðeð & deð menske hire wurðfule soule.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4720. Hii … strengþede castles.
13[?]. Cursor M., 22366 (Gött.). Þai sal … strinth þaim al gain þat fight.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, v. (John), 384. Þan mad he byschoppis ay-quhare, to strinth and vpehald goddis lare.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xx. 18. Thoȝtis bi counseilis ben strengthid.
1414. 26 Pol. Poems, xiii. 108. Strengþe ȝoure marche, and kepe þe see.
c. 1425. Eng. Conq. Ireland, (1896), 68. The lond of Irland … whyche he had y-cast for to streynth with castell.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 82. Thynges þat strynghtes and makys fat þe body.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 104. And leste that the same Rauf or his heires shold rynne into harme thereof afterwarde by hym or by his heires, he strengthed þis writyng with his seale.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 308/1. They be sent for to strengthe in us all our perfection unto the ende.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 12. God is as redy to here hym, & with his grace to helpe & strength hym.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., I. Wks. 1140/1. To stable and strength the walles of our heartes agaynste the gret sourges of this tempesteous sea.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractatis, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 25. I strenthit not my purpose with ma sufficient ressonis and auctoriteis.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 46. Marsh wall too slight, strength now, or god night.
1610. Mason, Turke, G 2. Twas loue and state Gaue thee this time of life to strength my fate.
1614. J. Taylor (Water P.), Water-worke, B 4 b. Those Marchants … more to strength their power, ioynd with the Pope.
2. To force, compel.
1340. Ayenb., 86. Ne alle þe dyeulen of helle ne moȝen mannes wyl strengȝþi to do one zenne wyþ oute his wylle.
3. refl. To summon up one’s strength.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 109. Whan Bayarde wyst hymselfe lade wyth two knyghtes, he strengthed hym selfe so strongly that it semed to Reynawde that he was more ioyouse.
Hence † Strengthed ppl. a.; † Strengthing vbl. sb. the action of the verb, also concr.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xiii. (Mark), 197. To þe strinthinge of haly kirk.
1382. Wyclif, 4 Kings xxiv. 10. The cyte is enuyround with streynthyngis. Ibid., Isa. xxxvi. 1. Alle the strengthid cites of Iuda.
1472. in Charters, etc. Edinb. (1871), 135. To help … to the said fortressing and strenthing of our said Burgh.
1528. Paynell, Salerne’s Regim., D j b. The streingthynge therof is nat sufficient to digest great repletions of meates.
1574. in P. Cunningham, Extr. Acc. Revels (Shaks. Soc.), 84. Tape for tyenge and strengthing, vij s.
