Syn. — Fortress, Fortification, Castle, Citadel. A fortress is constructed for military purposes only, and is permanently garrisoned; a fortification is built to defend harbors, cities, etc.; a castle is a fortress of early times which was ordinarily a palatial dwelling; a citadel is the stronghold of a fortress or city, etc.
FORTRESS
For"tress, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify. Shak.
FORTUITOUS For*tu"i*tous, a. Etym: [L. fortuitus; akin to forte, adv., by chance, prop. abl. of fors, fortis, chance. See Fortune.]
1. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms. It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed. Robertson. So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole. Hazlitt.
2. (LAw)
Defn: Happening independently of human will or means of foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes. Abbott.
Syn.
— Accidental; casual; contingent; incidental. See Accidental.
— For*tu"i*tous*ly, adv.
— For*tu"i*tous*ness, n.
FORTUITY
For*tu"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fortuité.]
Defn: Accident; chance; casualty. D. Forbes (1750).