Strength /(?)/

Strength

n.
  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.
    Thou must outlive Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty.
  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.
  3. Power of resisting attacks; impregnability.
  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.
  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.
  8. Intensity; -- said of light or color.
    Bright Phoebus in his strength.
  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.]

Phrases & Compounds

On the strength of
in reliance upon.

Strength

v. t.
  1. To strengthen. [Obs.]