(a) Physical strength, muscular power, brute bodily might; also person.; pl. physical powers, strength; (b) a mighty act or deed; (c) the application of physical force; also, physical tightness [quot. a1425]; with ~, forcefully, forceably; (d) the ability to withstand the application of physical force, sturdiness; on ~, firmly; (e) prowess in battle, skill in warfare; military might; -- also pl.; also, military advantage [quot. a1393]; ~ of honde, main force, force of arms; men of strengthes, men of prowess, good fighters; wered ~, troop strength; yeven ~ unto to fighten, to strengthen (the host) to fight, incite to battle; (f) violence; -- especially unlawful, sinful, or excessively brutal force; also, the forceful and illegal occupation of property [quot. c1436]; bi strengthe(s, mid (with) ~, violently, by force; with ~ and armure, by force and arms, by unlawful use of armed force; maken ~, to resort to violence; (g) compulsion; don ~, to compel (sb.); (h) hunt. the chase; hunten for (taken) with ~; slen bi (with) ~; (i) in proverbs.

(a) A fortified place, stronghold, fortress; also, a fortified camp [quots. a1387 & a1460]; fig. one who is as a bulwark [quot. c1450 Ponthus]; ~ of prisounes, fastness of prisons; (b) an offensive or a defensive military fortification; a siege work; also, a military engine; ~ makinge, the building of defensive works, fortification; haven diche in ~ of, to have a ditch for a defense for (a castle); maken the ~ of the warde, fortify the camp; (c) secure territory; a place under someone's control; hunt. a secure hiding place for the quarry, covert; (d) a fighting force, garrison of men; coll. & pl. a host, troops; also, great numbers of individuals; force of numbers [quot. a1450(c1410)]; in strengthes, in great numbers, in a host; the ~ of heven, the host of heaven; stonden in your ~, to stand in your full fighting force.

(a) Divine or infernal power, power of the Trinity, holy sacraments, etc.; also, a source of diabolical power [quots. 1340 & a1500(c1380)]; pl. divine or infernal powers; (b) the power of a virtue, vice, prayer, death, etc.; (c) authority over others; pre-eminence, influence; royal power; political power; -- also pl.; stonden in ~, to be subject to (someone's) authority; (d) the quality or fact of being powerful in the world; naked of al strengthe(s, weak, impotent; (e) a firi ~, a fiery substance of power.

(a) Moral, spiritual, or intellectual strength; the power to resist temptation, withstand tribulation, etc.; also person.; -- also pl.; (b) fortitude as one of the four cardinal virtues; (c) a source of spiritual strength, mainstay.

(a) Force of movement, impetus; (b) the force of moving water, strength of current; also, the force of pent-up waters [1st quot.]; (c) the force of wind; -- also pl.; also, the strength of a dragon's blast; (d) the intensity of fire or heat, hotness.

(a) A faculty; (b) ability, capacity; also, a strong point, special virtue [quot. c1440]; ~ of counseil, ableness of counsel; after their strengthes, according to their means; haven no ~, to have no means (to do sth.), be unable; (c) of al strengthes, with al strengthe(s, with al the strengthes of herte, with all (one's) might, to the best of (one's) ability; (d) gram. the ability to govern or require a certain construction, grammatical force; bi (in) the ~ of.

(a) Physical vigor; a state of physical well-being, one's prime; also, the power of proper functioning of the body or its members, a physiological process, etc.; in min most strengthes, in my prime; muchel on ~, of great vigor; nimen (taken) strengthes, to revive, be refreshed; wenden in the ~ of, go fortified by (food); (b) a state of virility or sexual vigor; (c) the state of health of a person, physical condition of a patient, an animal, or a bodily member; (d) ~ of bred (water), the mainstay of health, that which sustains the body.

(a) Intensity of pain, hunger, an emotion, etc.; the severity of an ailment; the power of love; (b) a high degree (of sth.); ~ of dronkenesse, the heat of drunkenness.

(a) Influence, import; (b) importance; no ~, no matter; ben lite ~ of, to be of little importance; don no (maken no, ne maken never) ~ of, take no heed of (sth.), attach no importance to; maken more ~, consider it more important (to do sth.); maken no ~, be indifferent; setten ~ and difference bitwixe, make a significant distinction between.

(a) The power to produce some physical effect, potency; also in fig. context [quot. ?a1425(c1380)]; a curative or harmful property; virulence of venom; intensity of flavor [quot. a1325]; the ~ of herbes, the poem entitled De Viribus Herbarum, ascribed to Macer; (b) magical or supernatural virtue or power; a magical or supernatural property; (c) an attack of sickness; (d) ?a potent substance, an abortifacient.

(a) The gist or tenor of a text; the import of a document; (b) meaning, signification; the important part [2nd quot.]; (c) the demonstrative force or weight of a premise.

(a) A physical exertion, an effort; also, an effort to accomplish something, an endeavor, attempt; (b) an urgent request; don ~, to importune (sb. to do sth.); maken ~, importune.

In phrases: (a) bi ~, perforce; bi ~ of (bi), by virtue of, by means of, because of; (b) ful ~, in full measure, fully.

Law (a) Legal force, validity in law; abiden (remainen) in ~, to remain in force; ben (stonden) in ~, beren ~, be valid, have legal force; (b) confirmation.

In misc. senses: (a) firmness of alliance; (b) support; comen to the ~ of the court, to support the court by full muster; (c) ?excellence; (d) ?error for sting n.; (e) ?error for streight adv.