fort
pronunciation
How to pronounce fort in British English:
UK [fɔːt]
How to pronounce fort in American English:
US [fɔːrt]
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- Noun:
- a fortified military post where troops are stationed
- a fortified defensive structure
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- Verb:
- gather in, or as if in, a fort, as for protection or defense
- enclose by or as if by a fortification
- station (troops) in a fort
Word Origin
- fort
- fort: [15] Etymologically, a fort is a ‘strong place’. The word comes either from Old French fort or from Italian forte, both noun uses of an adjective descended from Latin fortis ‘strong’. A similar semantic result, but achieved by derivation rather than conversion, can be seen in fortress [13], a borrowing from Old French forteresse, which goes back to Vulgar Latin *fortaritia, a derivative of Latin fortis. (The nearest native English equivalent of both words is stronghold.) Other words inherited by English from fortis include fortify [15], fortitude [15], the noun forte ‘strong point’ [17] (it was borrowed, despite its modern Italianate pronunciation, from French fort, and was subsequently remodelled on the French feminine form forte), and the musical direction forte ‘loud’ [18] (from Italian), which appears also in pianoforte.=> force, fortify, fortress
- fort (n.)
- mid-15c., "fortified place, stronghold," from Old French fort "fort, fortress; strong man," noun use of adjective meaning "strong, stout, sturdy; hard, severe, difficult; hard to understand; dreadful, terrible; fortified" (10c.), from Latin fortis "strong, mighty; firm, steadfast; brave, spirited," from Old Latin forctus, possibly from PIE root *bhergh- (2) "high, elevated," with derivatives referring to hills and hill-forts (see barrow (n.2)). Or possibly from *dher- (2) "to hold firmly, support." Figurative use of hold the fort attested from 1590s.
Example
- 1. The bank 's offices were like fort knox but there was nothing .
- 2. Part of an old fort collapsed in one town .
- 3. He returned three years later to find the original fort abandoned .
- 4. After electing george donner as their captain the party departed fort bridger in mid-july .
- 5. Lt gen robert cone gives a news conference after the shooting in fort hood , texas .