— strengthener , n. — strengtheningly , adv.
/strengk"theuhn, streng"-, stren"-/ , v.t.
1. to make stronger; give strength to.
2. Phonet. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring more effort, as from fricative to stop or nongeminate to geminate.
v.i.
3. to gain strength; grow stronger.
[ 1250-1300; ME strengthnen. See STRENGTH, -EN 1 ]
Syn. 1. buttress, reinforce, fortify, support.