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#152 fort → strong

Quick Summary

Fort-strong The Latin root fort means “strong.” This Latin root is the word origin of a large number of English vocabulary words, including effort, comfort, and forte. The root fort is easily recalled via the word fort, for a “fort” is a “strong” building constructed so as to withstand enemy attack.

From Membean

The word ingredient Memlet, shown below, is one of many ways that a word is taught in Membean.
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Ingredient Memlet: fortification
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fort → strong, vigorous, powerful
-i- → connective
fic → make, do
-ation → act of doing something

A fortification is a castle or defensive structure that has been “made strong or stable.”

Ingredient Memlet: reinforce
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re- → back, again
in- → in, into
fort → strong, vigorous, powerful
e → used for spelling and pronunciation

When a castle is reinforced, it is brought “back into (being) strong or powerful” so as to withstand attack.

“Fort” Makes Your Vocabulary Strong!

The Latin root fort means “strong.” Today we will endeavor to “strengthen” your vocabulary using minimal effort!

People have built forts since civilizations have been around to be a “strong” defense against invading enemies. Such fortresses or fortifications are built with “strong” walls so as to keep people safe within. Fort Knox, for instance, is a “strong” building keeping the United States’ supply of gold protected. Building fortresses requires a lot of effort or “strong” exertion from their builders. Sometimes fortifications have to be reinforced or made “strong” again if the walls have been weakened after a forceful or “strong” attack. And of course the “Force” in Star Wars makes its successful users “strong” beyond belief.

Breakfast cereals and other processed foods are often fortified with vitamins, making their nutritional value “stronger.” These extra vitamins hopefully make the consumer’s body comfortable or thoroughly “strong” so as to avoid discomfort, or being apart from feeling “strong.” A great deal of fortitude or “strength” of character is needed to deal with uncomfortable health problems, so it’s best to get enough vitamins to ward off sickness or disease. We all seek bodily comfort, or a thorough feeling of “strength” over that of debilitating weakness.

Did you know that the word “piano” is short for pianoforte? The word “piano” refers to a “soft” sound, and “forte” is a “strong” or “loud” sound. The pianoforte was the first keyboard instrument which had a range of volume; earlier harpsichords only had one volume! And regarding “strength” of sound, the “f” on a sheet of music stands for “forte,” which directs a musician to play the piece with a “strong” or “loud” sound; a “ff” indicates fortissimo, or playing with a very “strong” or loud sound!

Our minds have now been fortified with numerous examples of the root fort, which should make our knowledge of those words’ definitions effortless to recall as they are now a forte or “strong” point!

  1. fort: “strong” building
  2. fortress: “strong” building
  3. fortification: “strong” building
  4. effort: a putting of “strong” work forth
  5. reinforce: make “strong” again
  6. forceful: full of “strength”
  7. force: a “strong” power
  8. fortify: to make “strong”
  9. comfortable: being thoroughly “strong”
  10. discomfort: apart from being thoroughly “strong”
  11. fortitude: “strength” of character
  12. comfort: of a thoroughly “strong” feeling
  13. pianoforte: the soft sound and “strong” as in “loud” sound instrument
  14. forte: a “strong” sound
  15. fortissimo: a very strong “sound”
  16. fortified: “strengthened”
  17. effortless: not requiring “strength”
  18. forte: “strong” point in someone’s abilities