Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fortress

/ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.77 in modern English

Syllables: for-tress
IPA: /ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

noun

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

verb

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

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

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

Etymology

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.

Origin

Source language: Old French
First known use: First attested in the 12th century

Word Breakdown

Root: forteresce, fortalitia, fortis
Suffix: itia

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/
British English: /ˈfɔː.tɹəs/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

fortresses (plural) fortresses (present, singular) fortressing (participle, present) fortressed (participle, past) fortressed (past)

Derived Forms

cyberfortress fortresslike superfortress

Frequently Paired Words

fortalice fortilice

Synonyms

bastion bulwark citadel stronghold fort

Questions

How do you pronounce fortress?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/.
What does fortress mean?: 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.
Where does fortress come from?: It is traced to Old French. First known use: First attested in the 12th century.

How to pronounce fortress

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