strengthen

Everyday

1. To strengthen something is to make it stronger. tree →
2. To strengthen is to become stronger. tree →
3. To strengthen a feeling, idea or friendship is to make it firmer or more certain. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and health it means building muscles: «exercises that strengthen your legs». In design and technology a bridge or a frame is strengthened with extra supports, like triangles. In everyday life friendships and teams are strengthened. In stories wind or storms «strengthen». In money talk a currency strengthens when it becomes worth more.

Examples

• Swimming strengthens your arms and legs. tree →
• We strengthened the paper bridge with triangles. tree →
• The wind strengthened during the night. tree →
• Working together strengthened our friendship. tree →
• Milk helps to strengthen bones and teeth. tree →
• The builders strengthened the old wall with steel bars. tree →
• Her kind words strengthened my courage. tree →
• The new evidence strengthened the detective's idea. tree →
• You must be needing something to strengthen you after that turn.’ tree →

Note

Spelling: strength + en (the «g» and «th» both stay). Opposite: «weaken». «Strengthen» can take an object («strengthen the wall») or not («the wind strengthened»). Noun: strength.

In Jewish tradition

To strengthen is to make strong, whether a body, a hand, a king's rule or a person's spirit. The prophets use "weak hands" and "tottering knees" as a picture of people who are tired or afraid.

Interpretation. God told Moses to strengthen Joshua, who would lead the people into the land after him. Tradition sees this as a handing on of leadership from one generation to the next. Isaiah's words are read as a call to comfort and encourage the discouraged, which the rabbis count as an act of kindness.

Examples

• And one told Jacob, and said: 'Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee.' And Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. (Torah GEN.48.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.' (Torah DEU.3.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• Strengthen ye the weak hands, and make firm the tottering knees. (Prophets ISA.35.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. (Writings JOB.4.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. (Writings 2CH.17.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: strength + en (the «g» and «th» both stay). Opposite: «weaken». «Strengthen» can take an object («strengthen the wall») or not («the wind strengthened»). Noun: strength.