strength

n. [ OE. strengthe, AS. strengðu, fr. strang strong. See Strong. ] 1. The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

All his [ Samson's ] strength in his hairs were. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; -- in this sense opposed to frangibility; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like. “The brittle strength of bones.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Power of resisting attacks; impregnability. “Our castle's strength will laugh a siege to scorn.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security. [ 1913 Webster ]

God is our refuge and strength. Ps. xlvi. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths. Sprat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea? [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; -- said of literary work. [ 1913 Webster ]

And praise the easy vigor of a life
Where Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Intensity; -- said of light or color. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bright Phoebus in his strength. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; -- said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. A strong place; a stronghold. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the strength of, or
Upon the strength of, in reliance upon. “The allies, after a successful summer, are too apt, upon the strength of it, to neglect their preparations for the ensuing campaign.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Force; robustness; toughness; hardness; stoutness; brawniness; lustiness; firmness; puissance; support; spirit; validity; authority. See Force. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Strengthened p. pr. & vb. n. Strengthening. ] 1. To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; as, to strengthen a limb, a bridge, an army; to strengthen an obligation; to strengthen authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, . . .
With powerful policy strengthen themselves. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To animate; to encourage; to fix in resolution. [ 1913 Webster ]

Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him. Deut. iii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To invigorate; confirm; establish; fortify; animate; encourage. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow strong or stronger. [ 1913 Webster ]

The young disease, that must subdue at length,
Grows with his growth, and strengthens with his strength. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, gives or adds strength. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That strengthens; giving or increasing strength. -- Strength"en*ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Strengthening plaster (Med.), a plaster containing iron, and supposed to have tonic effects. [1913 Webster]

a. Abounding in strength; full of strength; strong. -- Strength"ful*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

Florence my friend, in court my faction
Not meanly strengthful. Marston. [1913 Webster]

n. A stronghold. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of strength. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]