strongest

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.
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            That our oxen may be strong to labor. --Ps. cxliv.
                                                  14.
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            Orses the strong to greater strength must yield.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or
      endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong
      constitution; strong health.
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   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.
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   4. Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a
      strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
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   5. Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong
      house, or company of merchants.
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   6. Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength
      or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
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   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.
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   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.
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   9. Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong
      partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
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            Her mother, ever strong against that match. --Shak.
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   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.
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   11. Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol;
       intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
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   12. Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors,
       etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
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   13. Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat. --Heb. v. 12.
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   14. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered;
       as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
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   15. Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
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             He had offered up prayers and supplications with
             strong crying and tears.             --Heb. v. 7.
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   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.
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             I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   17. Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
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             Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song,
             As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong. --E.
                                                  Smith.
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   18. (Stock Exchange) Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a
       strong market.
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   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.
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   {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}.
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   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.
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   Syn: Vigorous; powerful; stout; solid; firm; hardy; muscular;
        forcible; cogent; valid. See {Robust}.
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