fort: [15] Etymologically, a fort is a ‘strong place’. The word comes either from Old French fort or from Italian forte, both noun uses of an adjective descended from Latin fortis ‘strong’. A similar semantic result, but achieved by derivation rather than conversion, can be seen in fortress [13], a borrowing from Old French forteresse, which goes back to Vulgar Latin *fortaritia, a derivative of Latin fortis. (The nearest native English equivalent of both words is stronghold.) Other words inherited by English from fortis include fortify [15], fortitude [15], the noun forte ‘strong point’ [17] (it was borrowed, despite its modern Italianate pronunciation, from French fort, and was subsequently remodelled on the French feminine form forte), and the musical direction forte ‘loud’ [18] (from Italian), which appears also in pianoforte. => force, fortify, fortress
fort (n.)
mid-15c., "fortified place, stronghold," from Old French fort "fort, fortress; strong man," noun use of adjective meaning "strong, stout, sturdy; hard, severe, difficult; hard to understand; dreadful, terrible; fortified" (10c.), from Latin fortis "strong, mighty; firm, steadfast; brave, spirited," from Old Latin forctus, possibly from PIE root *bhergh- (2) "high, elevated," with derivatives referring to hills and hill-forts (see barrow (n.2)). Or possibly from *dher- (2) "to hold firmly, support." Figurative use of hold the fort attested from 1590s.
双语例句
1. Take the metalled path running between the church and the fort.
走教堂和城堡之间的碎石小道。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The old Dutch fort with its thick high walls looks virtually impregnable.
古老的荷兰城堡城墙又厚又高，看起来几乎固若金汤。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He made a firm decision to leave Fort Multry by boat.
他打定主意乘船离开穆尔特里堡。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Archaeologists have dated the fort to the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius.
考古学家判定这个堡垒建于罗马皇帝安东尼·庇护统治时期。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort.
