Other forms: fortified, fortifying, fortifies
To fortify is to strengthen a place against attack. Fortify the town, a fortified position, fortify the walls.
In food it means adding nutrients: fortified flour and fortified milk are required by law in several countries, and it is one of the cheapest public health measures there is. Fortified wine has spirit added, which is what makes port and sherry keep. Note that the Latin means to make strong, from fortis.
1verbfortifyTo strengthen a place against attack.
“The villagers fortified the town with high stone walls and a deep ditch.”
2verbaddTo add nutrients or spirit to a food or drink.
“Most breakfast cereals are fortified with iron and vitamins.”
fortify is a strengthening.
Latin fortificare is fortis, strong, plus facere, to make. Fort, force and comfort come from the same strength.
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰerǵʰ-
Latin
fortificō — to strengthen, fortify
Old French
fortifier
Middle English
fortifien
English, today
fortify
Built from
From Late Middle English fortifien, fortfien (“to strengthen (a castle, etc.) from attack; to strengthen (an army, etc.); to strengthen (a person), aid, support; to reinforce, support; to improve; to increase the efficacy of”), from Old French fortifier (modern French fortifier), from Latin fortificō (“to strengthen, fortify”), from Latin fortis (“powerful, strong”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- (“to ascend, rise up; to be elevated or up high”) or dʰerǵʰ- (“to be firm; robust, strong”)) + -ficō.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire