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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.

To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; as, to strengthen a limb, a bridge, an army; to strengthen an obligation; to strengthen authority. Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, . . . With powerful policy strengthen themselves. Shak.

One who, or that which, gives or adds strength. Sir W. Temple.

That strengthens; giving or increasing strength. -- Strength"en*ing*ly, adv. Strengthening plaster (Med.), a plaster containing iron, and supposed to have tonic effects.

Abounding in strength; full of strength; strong. -- Strength"ful*ness, n. Florence my friend, in court my faction Not meanly strengthful. Marston.

A stronghold. [Obs.]

Destitute of strength. Boyle.

See Strengthener.

Having strength; strong. [Obs.]

To strengthen again; to fortify anew.

Want of strength; weakness; feebleness. [Obs.] Wyclif.

To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates, a storm abates. The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated. Macaulay.

ellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren. Acts xi. 29. Natural abilities are like natural plants, that…

A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; want of strength; asthenia.

Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to e…

The act or method of ascertaining the strength of vinegar, or the proportion of acetic acid contained in it. Ure.

An instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Ure.

The measurement of the strength of acids, especially by a chemical process based on the law of chemical combinations, or the fact that, to produce a complete reaction, a certain definite weight of reagent is required. -- Ac`id*i*met"ric*al, a.

Having arrived at maturity, or to full size and strength; matured; as, an adult person or plant; an adult ape; an adult age.

To reënforce; to strengthen. Hallam.