Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Fortress

For′tress

,
Verb.
T.
To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Fortress

FOR'TRESS

, n.
1.
Any fortified place; a fort; a castle; a strong hold; a place of defense or security. The English have a strong fortress on the rock of Gibraltar, or that rock is a fortress.
2.
Defense; safety; security;
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress. Ps. 18.

FOR'TRESS

,
Verb.
T.
To furnish with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.

Definition 2024

fortress

fortress

English

Noun

fortress ‎(plural fortresses)

  1. A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
  2. (chess) A position that, if obtained by the weaker side, will prevent penetration by the opposing side, generally achieving a draw.

Translations

See also

Verb

fortress ‎(third-person singular simple present fortresses, present participle fortressing, simple past and past participle fortressed)

  1. To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify.

Etymology

early 14 c., from Old French forteresce, forteresse, forterece "strong place, fortification" (12 c.), variant of fortelesse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis "strong" (see fort) + -itia, added to adjectives to form nouns of quality or condition. French -ess from Latin -itia also is in duress, largesse, riches. For change of medial -l- to -r- in Old French, compare orne "elm" from Latin ulmus; chartre from cartula; chapitre from capitulum.

Pronunciation

Similar Results