different between stronghold vs fortress

English

Etymology

From Middle English strong-hold, strong-holde, stranghalde (equivalent to strong +? hold), from Middle English strong (“having physical strength, sturdy, strong; built to withstand assaults, fortified”) (from Old English strang, strong (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *streng?- (“stiff, tight”)) + Middle English h?ld (“grasp, grip; control, possession, rule”) (from Old English).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?st???h??ld/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?st????ho?ld/
• Hyphenation: strong?hold

Noun

stronghold (plural strongholds)

1. A place built to withstand attack; a fortress.

   Synonyms: bastion, bulwark, fastness
2. (figuratively) A place of domination by, or refuge or survival of, a particular group or idea.

Translations

References

Further reading

• fortification on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

Early 14 c., from Old French forteresce, forteresse, forterece (“strong place, fortification”) [from 12th c.], variant of fortelesse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis (“strong”) (see fort) +? -itia, added to adjectives to form nouns of quality or condition. French -ess, from Latin -itia is also in words such as duress, largesse and riches. For change of medial -l- to -r- in Old French, compare orne (“elm”) from ulmus; chartre from cartula and chapitre from capitulum.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?f??.t??s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f??.t??s/
• Hyphenation: fort?ress

Noun

fortress (plural fortresses)

1. A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; for example a fort, a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
2. (chess) A position that, if obtained by the weaker side, will prevent penetration by the opposing side, generally achieving a draw.

Synonyms

• bastion, stronghold, bulwark

Translations

See also

• fortalice, fortilice

Verb

fortress (third-person singular simple present fortresses, present participle fortressing, simple past and past participle fortressed)

1. (transitive) To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard, to fortify.