fortress

CEFRB1

/ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A large, strong building protected against attack.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

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

Examples

  • The fortress was secure from every kind of attack.

  • With you here beside me I'm not afraid of anything. You're my fortress.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈfɔː.tɹəs/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

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

  2. 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.

More examples

In context

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

  • 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.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The ancient stone blank on the hill was built to protect the kingdom.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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.