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Webster 1913 Edition

Strengthen

Strength′en

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Strengthened
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Strengthening
.]
1.
To make strong or stronger; to add strength to;
as, to
strengthen
a limb, a bridge, an army; to
strengthen
an obligation; to
strengthen
authority
.
Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, . . .
With powerful policy
strengthen
themselves.
Shakespeare
2.
To animate; to encourage; to fix in resolution.
Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and
strengthen
him.
Deut. iii. 28.
Syn. – To invigorate; confirm; establish; fortify; animate; encourage.

Strength′en

,
Verb.
I.
To grow strong or stronger.
The young disease, that must subdue at length,
Grows with his growth, and
strengthens
with his strength.
Pope.

Webster 1828 Edition

Strengthen

STRENGTHEN

, v.t.
1.
To make strong or stronger; to add strength to, either physical, legal or moral; as, to strengthen a limb; to strengthen an obligation.
2.
To confirm; to establish; as, to strengthen authority.
3.
To animate; to encourage; to fix in resolution.
Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him. Deuteronomy 3.
4.
To cause to increase in power or security.
Let noble warwick, Cobham and the rest, with powerful policy strengthen themselves.

STRENGTHEN

,
Verb.
I.
To grow strong or stronger.
The disease that shall destroy at length, grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength.
Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength.

Definition 2024

strengthen

strengthen

English

Verb

strengthen ‎(third-person singular simple present strengthens, present participle strengthening, simple past and past participle strengthened)

  1. (transitive) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce.
    to strengthen a limb, a bridge, an army;  to strengthen an obligation; to strengthen authority‎
    • William Shakespeare (c.1564–1616)
      Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, […] / With powerful policy strengthen themselves.
    • 1851, Anonymous, Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog
      A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.
  2. (transitive) To animate; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to fix in resolution; to hearten.
    • Bible, Deuteronomy iii. 28
      Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
    • 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterI:
      "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there. […]."
  3. (transitive) To augment; to improve; to intensify.
  4. (intransitive) To grow strong or stronger.

Antonyms

Translations

Derived terms

References

  • strengthen in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Etymology

From strength +‎ -en.

Pronunciation

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