fortress

Meanings

Noun

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

Verb

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

Related

Similar words

• bastion, stronghold, bulwark

Origin

• Early 14 c., from Old French forteresce ("strong place, fortification") , 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 is also in words such as duress, largesse and riches. For change of medial -l- to -r- in Old French, compare orne from ulmus; chartre from cartula and chapitre from capitulum.