Category:Strength

Strength, n. Etym: [oe. strengthe, as. streng, 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. All his [samson's] strength in his hairs were. Chaucer. Thou must outlive thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty. Milton.

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.

3. Power of resisting attacks; impregnability. "our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn." Shak.

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.

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. God is our refuge and strength. Ps. xlvi. 1. What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be One of our principal strengths. Sprat. Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation. Jer. Taylor.

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

7. Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; -- said of Literary work. And praise the easy vigor of a life where denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join. Pope.

8. Intensity; -- said of light or color. Bright phoebus in his strength. Shak.

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.

10. A strong place; a stronghold. [obs.] Shak. On, 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.

Syn. -- force; robustness; toughness; hardness; stoutness; brawniness; Lustiness; firmness; puissance; support; spirit; validity; authority. See force.

Strength Strength, v. t.

Defn: to strengthen. [obs.] Chaucer.