Fortify
to strengthen or reinforce; to make something more secure or more capable, or to strengthen someone's resolve or courage.
verbFortify
to strengthen or reinforce; to make something more secure or more capable, or to strengthen someone's resolve or courage.
verbImagine This
Imagine a medieval fortress under siege. Builders pile stones, lash iron bands, and reinforce gates until the walls gleam and the ramparts look impregnable.
Sounds Like
FOR-ti-fy
Looks Like
fort + ify, suggesting building a fortress
Remember This
Fortify is about strengthening something that is vulnerable: bodies (immune system), defenses (walls), or wills (resolve). It shares roots with fort (strong) and the suffix -fy (to make).
Other Forms
Connect With
reinforce, strengthen, bolster, secure, buttress
Note
Transitive verb. Commonly followed by against, or used with 'one's defenses' or 'one's resolve'. Do not confuse with 'forte' (strength in a specific area) which is spelled differently and has a different meaning.