fortress

Meanings

1. 1
   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.

   Like the Mesolithic age of 10,000-8000 B.C., the period 6000-4000 B.C. seems to be one of the fall of fortresses and the rise of pastoral nomadism.

2. 2
   verb

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

   Honour and Beautie in the owners armes, / Are weaklie fortreſt from a world of harmes.

3. 3
   noun

   a fortified defensive structure

4. 4
   noun

   A position that, if obtained by the weaker side, will prevent penetration by the opposing side, generally achieving a draw.

Early 14 c., from Old French forteresce, forteresse, forterece (“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, prowess, largesse and richesse. For change of medial -l- to -r- in Old French, compare orne (“elm”) from ulmus; chartre from cartula and chapitre from capitulum. First attested in the 12th century.

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