forthy 
For-thy appease your griefe and heavy plight, 
And tell the cause of your conceived payne. 
.V'liwr. K. Q., II. i. 14. 
forthy 2 (for'thi), o. [< forth* + -y 1 .] Forward : 
frank. [E. dial.] 
Wherever is no awe or fear of a king or prince, they 
that are most fortha in ingyring and furthsetting them- 
selves, live without measure or obedience after their own 
pleasure. 1'ifxi-utfii'. t'hroii. of Scotland, p. 1. 
fortieth (f6r'ti-eth), . and . [< ME./oiivr- 
tuthe, fitiri-rtitlie, fourtide, etc., < AS. fefjwerti- 
yotlia (= D. vevrtigste = OHG. fiorzitgosto, MHG. 
rierzegeste, G. rierzigste = Icel. fertugandi = 
Sw. fyrtionde = Dan. fyrretyvende), fortieth, < 
fedwertig, E. forty, etc., + -tha, -th, term, of 
ordinals.] I. a. Next after the thirty-iiiiith : 
an ordinal numeral. 
What doth it avail 
To lie tnefortifttt man iii an eutail? 
Donne, Love's Diet. 
II. . 1. The quotient of unity divided by 
forty; one of forty equal parts into which 
something is divided. 2. In early EHIJ. lair, 
one fortieth part of the rents of the year, or of 
movables, or both, granted or levied by way 
of tax. 
fortiflable (for'ti-fi-a-bl), it. [= F. fortifiable ; 
an fortify + -able.'] "Capable of being fortified. 
fortification (f6r''ti-fi-ka'shon), w. [=D./iw- 
tifikatie = G. fortijinitioit ='ban. Sw. fortijiku- 
tioii, < T? . fortification = Sp. fortifieacion = Pg. 
fortificaytto = It. fortificazione, < LL. foi'tijica- 
tio(u-), a strengthening, fortifying, < fortijicare, 
fortify : gee fortify.'] 1. The act of fortifying 
or strengthening. 2. The art or science of 
strengthening military positions in such a way 
that they may be defended by a body of men 
much inferior in number to those by whom 
they are attacked. 
Fortification is, in shurt, the art of enabling the weak 
to resist the strong. Kncyc. Brit., IX. 421. 
3. That which fortifies, strengthens, or pro- 
I ects. 
The gloves of an Otter are the \wHtfortificatiun foryonr 
hands that can he thought of against wet weather. 
/. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 5'J. 
Specifically 4. A military work, consisting 
of a wall, ditch, palisades, etc., constructed for 
the purpose of strengthening a position ; a for- 
tified place ; a fort ; a castle. Fortifications are 
divided into permanent and temporary or field fortifica- 
tion*. Permanent fortification* are work's required to 
remain effective for any length of time, for the purpose 
Section of Fortified Wall. Anterior on the left ; exterior on the 
right.) 
of defending important positions, as cities, harbors, ar- 
senals, etc. Temporary or field fortification* are designed 
to strengthen a post that is to be occupied only for a 
limited period. The figure represents a section of a for- 
tified wall, a, a, is the abatis ; b, b, the counterscarp : 
c, c, the palisade: d, d, the scarp; /,/, the f raise ; f,r,g,u. 
the parapet ; h, the banquette ; and i. y, the breast-height. 
I'm- definitions of these, see the words. 
That done, I will be walking on the works ; 
Repair there to me. . . . 
This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see 't? 
Shak., Othello, iii. 2. 
Systems of fortification, social methods of arranging 
and constructing the works in and around a fortified place, 
so that the different parts shall be correlative. These 
methods have been designated by engineers, according 
to the plan of the enceinte, as (a) the circular or cur- 
vilinear system, (b) the polygonal or caponiere system, 
(c) the teuailled system, and (rt) the hastioned system. To 
these in modern times may be added the armored or tur- 
reted system. Mahait. = Syn. Fortification, Bulioark, 
Castle, Citadel, Fort, Fortress, Mamelon, Rampart, Redan, 
Redoubt. Fortification is the only one of these words 
that is used for the art or science, or for all classes of de- 
fensive works ; the others represent kinds uf fortification. 
Thus, fortress represents a large, and fort generally, but 
not always, a smaller stronghold, defensible on all sides, 
as Fortress Monroe, Fort Sumter. See the definitions of 
the words. 
fortification-agate (f6rti-fi-ka'shpn-ag*at), . 
A variety of agate which when polished exhibits 
lines suggestive of the form or of the plan of a 
fortified place. 
fortifier (for'ti-fi-er), H. 1. One who strength- 
ens or upholds. 2. One who fortifies, or con- 
structs fortifications. 
M. Giouanni Marmori, Afortifier, had deuised a certaine 
kinde of ioyned boords, the which being caried of the soul- 
diers, defended them from the shot. 
Hakluut's Voimye*. II. 123. 
_:; i I 
fortify (for'ti-fi), p. : pret. and pp. fortified, 
ppr. fortifying. [< F. fortifier = Pr. Sp. Pg. 
fortificar = It. fortificure, < LL. fortijicare, 
strengthen, fortify, < L.fortis, strong, + facere, 
make: see fort and -fy.~] I. traiia. 1. To make 
strong ; strengthen ; increase the force of in 
any way ; especially, to furnish with means of 
resistance. 
And he made to a-meude and fortitfie the wallis of the 
town ther as, as tliei were most feble.' 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 187. 
With scriptures auteutike 
My werke woll I ground, vnderset, &fortifie. 
Itnnnlie <[f Lo'ee. 1. 13u. 
It will not be amiss to fiirtifu the argument with an 
observation of Chrysostom's. Ooldsiiiith, The Bee, No. T. 
Fortified by the sip of ... why, 'tis wine. 
Ilrotcniwf, King and Book. I. 202. 
Timidity was fortified by pride, and even the success of 
my pen discouraged the trial of my voici-. 'Ultlntn, Life. 
2. Specifically, to surround with defensive 
works, with a view to resist the assaults of an 
enemy; strengthen and secure by walls, bat- 
teries, or other means of defense ; render de- 
fensible against attack : as, to fortify a city, 
town, or harbor. 
Go you and enter llarfienr; there remain, 
And fortify it strongly 'gainst the French. 
SAi.,Hen. V.,iii. X. 
Bachu . . . is a walled towne, and strongly fortified. 
Jlakluyt's Voyages, I. 422. 
The accesses of the Hand were wondrously fortifjf'd 
with strong workes or moles. Milton, Hist. Eng., ii. 
TO fortify Wine, to add brandy to it. 
H. intrniig. To raise strongholds or defensive 
works. 
Master Samuel lordell gathered together but a few of 
the stragglers about him at Beggersbush, where he forti- 
tied and lined in despight of the enemy. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's Works, II. 7t>. 
I at once put all the troops at Savannah in motion for 
Pittsburg Landing, knowing that the enemy was fortifi/- 
:>/ at Corinth and collecting an army there under John- 
ston. '". S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 331. 
fortilaget, [Another form otfortalice, q. v.] 
A little fort ; a blockhouse ; a f ortalice. 
Nought feard theyr force that fort i lane to win. 
Spenser, K. Q., II. xii. 4::. 
for-timet, An obsolete form of foretime. 
fortin (for'tin), . [F., dim. of fort, a fort.] 
A little fort; a field-fort; a sconce. 
fortinet, An obsolete variant of fortune. 
fortissimo (for-tis'i-mo), a. [It., superl. of 
forte, loud, strong: see forte^.] In music, very 
loud : noting a passage that is intended to be 
so rendered. Abbreviated ff. 
fortition (for-tish'ou), n. [< L.. fur(t-), chance 
(see fortune), + -iiion.~\ The principle of trust- 
ing to chance ; fortuitous selection. 
No mode of election operating in the spirit tttfortitUiit 
or rotation can be generally good. Burke. 
fortitude (for'ti-tud), n. [= F. fortitude = Sp. 
fortitud = It. fortitude, < li.fortitiuto, strength, 
< fortin, strong: see fort.] If. Strength ; force ; 
power to attack or to resist attack. 
The fortitude of the place is best known to you. 
Shak., Othello, i. 'J. 
He |Otho] conquered him [the Saracen] with no less 
fortitude then happinesse. Coryat, Crudities, 1. 120. 
2. Mental power of endurance ; patient cou- 
rage under affliction, privation, or temptation ; 
firmness in confronting danger, hardship, or 
suffering. 
Fortitude is a considerate hassarding vpon daunger, and 
a willing harte to take paines, in liehalfe of the right. 
Sir T. Wilson, Art of Rhetoric, p. 35. 
You bear calamity with a fortitude 
Would become a man ; I, like a weak girl, suffer. 
Fletcher (and another), Sea Voyage, ii. I. 
The imminent anil constant risk of assassination, a risk 
which has shaken very strong nerves, a risk which severely 
tried even the adamantine fortitude of Cromwell. 
Mttcaulaif, Hist. Eng., vii. 
3. In astral., any circumstance which strength- 
ens the effect of a planet, or of the part of for- 
tune ; a dignity ; especially, an accidental dig- 
nity, such as being in the ascendant, in the 
seventh, fourth, eleventh, second, fifth, ninth, 
or third house, being in hayz, having direct 
motion, having swift motion, being free from 
combustion, being in cazimi, etc. 
Let the twelve houses of the horoscope 
Be lodg'd with fortitudes ami fortunates, 
To make you blest in your designs, Paudolfo. 
T. Tomkis (?), Albumazar. 
= Syn. 2. Endurance, etc. (see patience), resolution, reso- 
luteness, nerve. 
fortitudinous (for-ti-tu'di-nus), a. [< 'L.forti- 
tudo (fortitudin-), fortitude, + -out.] Having 
fortitude: capable of endurance. [Rare.] 
fortuitous 
As brave and Asfi"-iifinliti^n.-< a man as any in the king's 
dominions. Fielding, Amelia, v. u. 
fortlet (fort'let), H. [< fort + -let; cf.forcilil. 
fortalice, etc.] A little fort. 
fortnight (fort'nit or -nit), ti. [< ME. fourte- 
niijlit, fourten night, < AS. feowertyiiv itiltt, i. e., 
fourteen nights; cf. nt-iiniijlit, for seven iiiyht, 
& week.] The space of fourteen days; two 
weeks. 
Urn- in the temple of the godtlesse Clemence 
\Ve have ben waytynge al iliiBfourteni<rttt. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 71. 
From the haven of Liiine in Norfolke ... to Islam), it 
is not about: & fortnight x sailing with ail ordinarie winde. 
llaklitiif* Voiiatin, 1. 122. 
Xiii-xr. How long is it now 
'!'" Uunnias-ti'lr'.' 
Ln. Ciijt. A fortnight, and odd days. 
Shak., K. anil .1.. i. ::. 
fortnightly (fort'nit-li or-njt-li),. [(fortniijlii 
"*" -~^"-] Occurring or appearing once a fort- 
night: as, a fortnightly mail. 
fortnightly (fort'nit-li or -nit-li), arfr. [<, fort- 
night + -Ii/' 2 .'] Once a fortnight; every fort- 
night; at intervals of a fortnight: as, a paper 
published fortniijh tl//. 
fortot. See for, prep. 
fortravelt, <. t. [ME. fortraraMen ; < J<--1 + 
travel, travail.] To tire by travel. 
Fortranailled hy were sore, that they moste slepe echon . 
Life nffit. Kenrlui. (Early Eng. 1'oenis. ed. t'lirnivall). 
11. 313. 
fortreadt, r. (. [ME. fortreden (pp. fortroden), 
< AS. fortredtin (pret. fortrced, pp. fortreden), 
tread down, < for- + tredan, tread : see for- 1 
and tread.'] To tread down; trample upon; 
crush. 
It [virtue] is cast undyr and fortroilr n undyrthe feet of 
felonous folk. Chaucer, Hoethius, iv. prose 1. 
fortress (for'tres), n. [< ME. fortresse, < OF. 
forteresce, F. forteresse (= Pr. fortaressa), an- 
other form of OF. fortelettse, fortelesce (= Pr. 
fortalessa), > E. fortalice, q. v.] A fortified 
town or position ; afort; acastle; astronghold; 
hence, any jtlace of defense or security. 
To lyve the more in sikirnesse 
Do make anoon a fortresse. 
Rum. of the Rote, 1. 3942. 
God is unrforti-es* ; in whose conquering name 
Let us resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks. 
Shak., IHen. VI., ii. 1. 
This arm that hath reclaim'd 
To your obedience fitly fortresses, 
Twelve cities, and seven walled towns of strength . . . 
I.et8 fall his sword before your highness* feet. 
SAot.,lHeu. VI., iii. 4. 
Maiden fortress. See m/en.=Syn. See fortification. 
fortress (for'tres), f. t. [< fortress, n.] To 
furnish with a fortress ; defend by or as by a 
fortress; guard; fortify. 
Their temple and cite Jerusalem were builded pleas- 
antly vpon that holy highe mount of Sion, vte\lfortreced 
and turretted. Joye, Expos, of Daniel, xii. 
Honour and beauty, in the owner's arms. 
Are weakly fortress'd from a world of harms. 
Shak, Lucrece, 1. 28. 
fortrett (fort'ret), . [Cf. fortress and fortlet.] 
A little fort ; a fortlet ; a sconce. 
fortuitt, . [< ME.fortuit, < OF.fortuit, F. for- 
tidt, < i,. foi-tuitus, casual : see/or tuitous.] For- 
tuitous; accidental. 
Thise ben thanne the causes of the abriggynge offortuit 
hap, the which abreggyuge otfortuit hap comth of causes 
encowntrynge and flowynge togydere to hemself, and nat 
by the entenciou of the doere. 
Chaucer, Boethius, v. prose 1. 
fortuitism (for-tu'i-tizm), n. The doctrine of 
a fortuity in the action of natural causes, as 
opposed to design. [Rare.] 
Professor Mivart's teleology now so nearly approaches 
Mr. Darwin's fortuititm that the difference betweeu them 
i- reduced to a matter of abstract hypothesis. 
St. James s Gazette, April 14, 1881. 
fortuitist (f6r-tu'i-tist), . One who holds the 
doctrine of fortuitism. [Rare.] 
There will always lie teleologists, no doubt, and there 
will always be fortuitiats, if we may coin a needful correl- 
ative term. St. James's Gazette, April 14, 1881. 
fortuitous (fdr-tu'i-tus), a. [= F. fortuit = 
Sp. Pg. It. fortuito, < L. fortuitus, casual, acci- 
dental, < for(t-)s, chance (cf. abl. forte, by 
chance): see fortune.] Accidental; casual; 
happening by chance; coming or occurring 
without any cause, or without any general 
cause; random. 
How can the Epicurean's opinion be true that the uni- 
verse was formed by & fortuitous concourse of atoms? 
Xu-ift. 
To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not owe every 
pleasure and convenience of our lives ! 
i.i:i. : nut-It. Vicar, xxzi. 
