strengthen

== English == === Etymology === From rare Middle English strengthenen (14th c.), from earlier strengthen (12th c.), where -en is the infinitive ending. Probably the original form was reinterpreted as strength +‎ -en around the time when the infinitive ending was being apocopated in late Middle English. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/, /ˈstɹɛnθən/ (pre-/ŋ/ tensing) IPA(key): [ˈstɹeɪŋ(k)θən] Rhymes: -ɛŋkθən === Verb === strengthen (third-person singular simple present strengthens, present participle strengthening, simple past and past participle strengthened) (transitive) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify. (transitive) To empower; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to enhearten. (transitive) To augment; to improve; to intensify. (transitive) To reinforce, to add to, to support (someone or something) (transitive) To substantiate; to corroborate (a belief, argument, etc.) (intransitive) To grow strong or stronger. ==== Synonyms ==== (to make strong or stronger): See also Thesaurus:strengthen (to augment): See also Thesaurus:augment ==== Antonyms ==== weaken atrophy ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === “strengthen”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. == Middle English == === Alternative forms === strenkþen, strengþen, strengþe, strengþi, strengthe, strenght, strenthe, streynght, streynthyn, streyngthe (early) strengðden, strengþin, strencþen === Etymology === From strengthe +‎ -en (infinitival suffix). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈstrɛnkθən/, /ˈstrɛnɡðən/ === Verb === strengthen to strengthen, fortify (increase the strength of) to empower, to augment (increase the potency or severity of) to enhearten, to encourage (increase the morale of) to assist, to support (someone or something) to substantiate; to corroborate (a belief, argument, etc.) to approve or validate (a document). to endeavour; to rouse oneself. (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?) ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Descendants ==== English: strength === References === “strengthen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.