from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Strong \Strong\, a. [Compar. {Stronger}; superl. {Strongest}.]
[AS. strang, strong; akin to D. & G. streng strict, rigorous,
OHG. strengi strong, brave, harsh, Icel. strangr strong,
severe, Dan. streng, Sw. str[aum]ng strict, severe. Cf.
{Strength}, {Stretch}, {String}.]
1. Having active physical power, or great physical power to
act; having a power of exerting great bodily force;
vigorous.
[1913 Webster]
That our oxen may be strong to labor. --Ps. cxliv.
14.
[1913 Webster]
Orses the strong to greater strength must yield.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or
endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong
constitution; strong health.
[1913 Webster]
3. Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to
withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily
subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a
strong fortress or town.
[1913 Webster]
4. Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a
strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
[1913 Webster]
5. Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong
house, or company of merchants.
[1913 Webster]
6. Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength
or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
[1913 Webster]
7. Moving with rapidity or force; violent; forcible;
impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind
was strong from the northeast; a strong tide.
[1913 Webster]
8. Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind
or imagination; striking or superior of the kind;
powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a strong argument; strong
reasons; strong evidence; a strong example; strong
language.
[1913 Webster]
9. Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong
partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
[1913 Webster]
Her mother, ever strong against that match. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
10. Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular
quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or
tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.
[1913 Webster]
11. Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol;
intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
[1913 Webster]
12. Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors,
etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
[1913 Webster]
13. Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat. --Heb. v. 12.
[1913 Webster]
14. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered;
as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
[1913 Webster]
15. Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
[1913 Webster]
He had offered up prayers and supplications with
strong crying and tears. --Heb. v. 7.
[1913 Webster]
16. Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the
mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of a strong
mind, memory, judgment, or imagination.
[1913 Webster]
I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
17. Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
[1913 Webster]
Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song,
As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong. --E.
Smith.
[1913 Webster]
18. (Stock Exchange) Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a
strong market.
[1913 Webster]
19. (Gram.)
(a) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its
preterit (imperfect) by a variation in the root
vowel, and the past participle (usually) by the
addition of -en (with or without a change of the root
vowel); as in the verbs strive, strove, striven;
break, broke, broken; drink, drank, drunk. Opposed to
weak, or regular. See {Weak}.
(b) Applied to forms in Anglo-Saxon, etc., which retain
the old declensional endings. In the Teutonic
languages the vowel stems have held the original
endings most firmly, and are called strong; the stems
in -n are called weak other constant stems conform,
or are irregular. --F. A. March.
[1913 Webster]
{Strong conjugation} (Gram.), the conjugation of a strong
verb; -- called also {old conjugation}, or {irregular
conjugation}, and distinguished from the {weak
conjugation} or {regular conjugation}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Strong is often used in the formation of
self-explaining compounds; as, strong-backed,
strong-based, strong-bodied, strong-colored,
strong-fisted, strong-handed, strong-ribbed,
strong-smelling, strong-voiced, etc.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Vigorous; powerful; stout; solid; firm; hardy; muscular;
forcible; cogent; valid. See {Robust}.
[1913 Webster]