English
fortify
Fortify comes from Late Latin fortificāre ‘to strengthen, fortify’, from Latin fortis ‘powerful, strong’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- ‘to ascend, rise up’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰerǵʰ-‘to ascend, rise up’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*forktisreconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEforctis
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfortis‘powerful, strong’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEfortificāre‘to strengthen, fortify’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fortifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fortifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1528fortify
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰerǵʰ-‘to ascend, rise up’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*forktisreconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEforctis
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfortis‘powerful, strong’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEfortificāre‘to strengthen, fortify’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fortifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fortifien
- Englishearliest quotation 1528fortify
Earliest quotation: 1528, Thomas More, A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. C: “And vnto that texte he wold haue made you…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- ‘to ascend, rise up’
berry, borough, burgess, bourgeois, barrow, burglar, brie, burgh, brahmin, burg, brahmana, bergh, bourguignon, broch, borgo, 17 more
through Old Latin forctis
through Latin fortis ‘powerful, strong’
force, comfortable, comfort, fortress, forte, forcible, 12 more
Today it means
verb To give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- / fortify