Where does “fortify” come from?

Fortify comes from Old French fortifier, from Latin fortifico, derived from Latin fortis meaning strong, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- and bʰer-.

fortify (English): To increase the defenses of; to strengthen and...

Definitions

  1. To increase the defenses of; to strengthen and...

Ancestry of “fortify”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchfortifier—
2Late Latinfortificostrengthen, fortify; I strengthen, fortify
3Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
4Old Latinforctisstrong
5Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

Words derived from “fortify”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Italic forktis →Every word from Old Latin forctis →