= strengthen, v. Now somewhat rare. transitive. To make strong or stronger (in various senses).

transitive. To give spiritual or moral strength to; to give courage, confidence, or resolution to; to encourage. Cf. strengthen, v. 2a.

transitive. To make stable, in various senses; to strengthen, render firm or fixed; to render steadfast; to bring into a secure or permanent…

In later use only with into (cf. sense 8). transitive. To condense (a vapour or mist) to a liquid. Also figurative. Obsolete.

transitive. To make steadfast, establish, confirm (in). Obsolete.

transitive. To maintain, encourage, or strengthen (a person's heart, mind, etc.) in or with something. Obsolete.

To fix, make steadfast or constant (a wavering, irresolute or doubting person, heart, mind, etc.). Const. in, to.

intransitive. To supply a person with strength or courage. Obsolete. rare.

transitive. To make more steadfast, unyielding, or obstinate; Military to increase the fighting value of a force by the admixture of soldiers of…

To cause to resemble steel in some quality. figurative. To make hard, unbending, or strong as steel, to render insensible to impression, to make…

transitive. To make tough.

In extended use and figurative. transitive. To provide with moral, intellectual, etc., steadiness or weight.

transitive. To strengthen, fortify.

To settle immovably the purpose or conviction of (a person). Const. to with infinitive; also on, for, against. Now only in passive.

To steady, give (mental) balance or ballast to.

figurative. Spirit, liveliness; volatility of temperament, inconstancy; wittiness. Obsolete.

transitive. To strengthen inwardly.

to put stuffing into: to add strength or substance to. colloquial.