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Webster 1913 Edition

Robust

Ro-bust′

,
Adj.
[L.
robustus
oaken, hard, strong, fr.
robur
strength, a very hard kind of oak; cf. Skr.
rabhas
violence: cf. F.
robuste
.]
1.
Evincing strength; indicating vigorous health; strong; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; sound;
as, a
robust
body;
robust
youth;
robust
health
.
2.
Violent; rough; rude.
While romp-loving miss
Is hauled about in gallantry
robust
.
Thomson.
3.
Requiring strength or vigor;
as,
robust
employment
.
Locke.
Syn. – Strong; lusty; sinewy; sturdy; muscular; hale; hearty; vigorous; forceful; sound.
–
Robust
,
Strong
. Robust means, literally, made of oak, and hence implies great compactness and toughness of muscle, connected with a thick-set frame and great powers of endurance. Strong denotes the power of exerting great physical force. The robust man can bear heat or cold, excess or privation, and toil on through every kind of hardship; the strong man can lift a great weight, can give a heavy blow, and a hard gripe. “Robust, tough sinews bred to toil.”
Cowper.
Then ’gan the villain wax so fierce and
strong
,
That nothing may sustain his furious force
.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Robust

ROBUST'

,
Adj.
[L. robustus, from robur, strength.]
1.
Strong; lusty; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; forceful; as a robust body; robust youth. It implies full flesh and sound health.
2.
Sound; vigorous; as robust health.
3.
Violent; rough; rude.
Romp loving miss is haul'd about in gallantry robust.
4.
Requiring strength; as robust employment.
[Note. This is one of the words in which we observe a strong tendency in practice to accentuate the first syllable, as in access; and there are many situations of the word in which this is the preferable pronunciation. Robustious is extremely vulgar, and in the United States nearly obsolete.]

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