*fort*

‖ [ L., strong water. ] (Chem.) Nitric acid. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a discussion; give-and-take. [ PJC ]

(Meteor.) A scale of wind force devised by Sir F. Beaufort, R. N., in 1805, in which the force is indicated by numbers from 0 to 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The full scale is as follows: -- 0, calm; 1, light air; 2, light breeze; 3, gentle breeze; 4, moderate breeze; 5, fresh breeze; 6, strong breeze; 7, moderate gale; 8, fresh gale; 9, strong gale; 10, whole gale; 11, storm; 12, hurricane. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To befall. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I wish all good befortune you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting. ] [ F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to strengthen much; con- + fortis strong. See Fort. ] 1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To assist or help; to aid. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I . . . can not help the noble chevalier:
God comfort him in this necessity! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

That we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2 Cor. i. 4 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command. Wordsworth.

Syn. -- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven; invigorate; inspirit; gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen. -- To Comfort, Console, Solace. These verbs all suppose some antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. Console is confined to the act giving sympathetic relief to the mind under affliction or sorrow, and points to some definite source of that relief; as, the presence of his friend consoled him; he was much consoled by this intelligence. The act of consoling commonly implies the inculcation of resignation. Comfort points to relief afforded by the communication of positive pleasure, hope, and strength, as well as by the diminution of pain; as, “They brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.” Acts xx. 12. Solace is from L. solacium, which means according to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of the sufferer. Hence, the verb to solace denotes the using of things for the purpose of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, to solace one's self with reflections, with books, or with active employments. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. confort, fr. conforter. ] 1. Assistance; relief; support. [ Obs. except in the phrase “aid and comfort.” See 5 below. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

In comfort of her mother's fears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had much joy and comfort in thy love. Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

He had the means of living in comfort. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as, to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings: 1. Strength and relief received under affliction; 2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with comforts; but it is with the former only that the word consolation is brought into comparison. As thus compared, consolation points to some specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain. “Consolation, or comfort, signifies some alleviation to that pain to which it is not in our power to afford the proper and adequate remedy; they imply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a diminution of the burden.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. confortable. ] 1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Serviceable; helpful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort; cheering; as, a comfortable hope. “Kind words and comfortable.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord leans wondrously to discontent;
His comfortable temper has forsook him:
He is much out of health. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a sick person. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being comfortable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a comfortable or comforting manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who administers comfort or consolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let no comforter delight mine ear
But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Script.) The Holy Spirit, -- referring to his office of comforting believers. [ 1913 Webster ]

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A knit woolen tippet, long and narrow. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The American schoolboy takes off his comforter and unbuttons his jacket before going in for a snowball fight. Pop. Sci. Monthly. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Job's comforter, a boil. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. providing freedom from worry.
Syn. -- cheering, satisfying. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. affording comfort or solace.
Syn. -- consolatory, consoling. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Without comfort or comforts; in want or distress; cheerless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Comfortless through tyranny or might. Spenser.

Syn. -- Forlorn; desolate; cheerless; inconsolable; disconsolate; wretched; miserable.

-- Com"fort*less*ly, adv. -- Com"fort*less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act or process of administering comfort. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who comforts. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. confortation, LL. confortatio. Cf. Comfort. ] The act of strengthening. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Fort.) A kind of buttress of masonry to strengthen a revetment wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A spur or projection of a mountain. Imp. Dict. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. desconfort, F. déconfort. See Discomfort, v. t. ] 1. Discouragement. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Want of comfort; uneasiness, mental or physical; disturbance of peace; inquietude; pain; distress; sorrow. “An age of spiritual discomfort.” M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strive against all the discomforts of thy sufferings. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discomforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Discomforting. ] [ OF. desconforter, F. déconforter, to discourage; pref. des- (L dis-) + conforter. See Comfort. ] 1. To discourage; to deject. [ 1913 Webster ]

His funeral shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To destroy or disturb the comfort of; to deprive of quiet enjoyment; to make uneasy; to pain; as, a smoky chimney discomforts a family. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. OF. desconfortable. ] 1. Causing discomfort; occasioning uneasiness; making sad. [ Obs. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of comfort; uncomfortable. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A labyrinth of little discomfortable garrets. Thackeray.

-- Dis*com"fort*a*ble*ness, n. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

‖ [ F., strong water, nitric acid (which is used in etching plates). ] (Art) An etching or a print from an etched plate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr. esforcier. See Efforce. ] 1. An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous endeavor; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; as, an effort to scale a wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

We prize the stronger effort of his power. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion. Rankine.

Syn. -- Endeavor; exertion; struggle; strain; straining; attempt; trial; essay. See Attempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To stimulate. [ Obs. ] “He efforted his spirits.” Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. requiring great physical effort. Opposite of effortless. [ Narrower terms: arduous, backbreaking, back-breaking, grueling, gruelling, hard, heavy, laborious, labourious, punishing, slavish, strenuous, toilsome; exhausting, tiring, wearing, wearying ] Also See: difficult, hard. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Making no effort. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. requiring little or no effort; as, an effortless victory. [ PJC ]

prep. [ AS. em-, emn-, in comp. equiv. to efen equal + forð forth. ] According to; conformably to. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Emforth my might, so far as lies in my power. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Far forth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As ferforth as, as far as. --
So ferforth, to such a degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Ferforth. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., from fort strong, L. fortis; perh. akin to Skr. darh to fix, make firm, and to E. firm Cf. Forte, Force, Fortalice, Comfort, Effort. ] (Mil.) A strong or fortified place; usually, a small fortified place, occupied only by troops, surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with palisades, stockades, or other means of defense; a fortification. [ 1913 Webster ]

Detached works, depending solely on their own strength, belong to the class of works termed forts. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. fortalitia, or OF. fortelesce. See Fortress. ] (Mil.) A small outwork of a fortification; a fortilage; -- called also fortelace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ IT. forte: cf. F. fort. See Fort. ] 1. The strong point; that in which one excels.