Strŏng, a.

a. [compar. STRONGER; superl. STRONGEST (82).] [A-S. strang, strong, strenge, from the root of string; Icel. strangr, Sw. sträng, Dan. & D. streng, O. H. Ger. strangi, strengi, N. H. Ger. streng, strenge, severe, tight, strong.] 1. Having physical active power, or great physical power to act; having the power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous. “That our oxen may be strong to labor.” Ps. cxliv. 14. Orses the strong to greater strength must yield. Dryden.

2. Having physical passive power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; solid; as, a constitution strong enough to bear the fatigues of a campaign.
3. Well fortified; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong fortress or town.
4. Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a strong nation; a nation strong at sea.
5. Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house or company of merchants.
6. Reaching a certain degree or limit, in respect to strength or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
7. Moving with rapidity; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the north-east; we had a strong tide against us.
8. Naturally secure against the attacks of disease; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution.
9. 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 or instance; he used strong language.
10. Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong whig or tory. “Her mother, ever strong against that match.” Shak.
11. 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; strong coffee.
12. Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
13. Affecting the sight forcibly; bright; vivid; intense; as, strong light, colors, and the like.
14. Affecting the taste forcibly; as, the strong flavor of onions.
15. Affecting the smell powerfully; as, a strong scent.
16. Not of easy digestion; solid; highly nutritive.

Ye . . . are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Heb. v. 12.

17. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a custom grown strong by time.
18. Violent; vehement; earnest.

He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death. Heb. v. 7. 19. Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of strong powers of mind; a man of a strong mind or intellect; a man of strong memory, judgment, or imagination. I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism. Dryden. 20. Having great force; comprising much in few words; forcible; energetic. Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song, As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong. Smith. Strong is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, strong-backed, strong-based, strong-bodied, strong-box, strong-colored, strong-fisted, strong-handed, strong-lunged, strong-minded, strong-ribbed, strong-set, strong-smelling, strong-voiced, and the like. Strong escape, an escape accomplished by strength. [Obs.] Shak. Syn.—Robust; vigorous; powerful; stout; solid; firm; hardy; muscular; forcible; cogent; valid. See ROBUST.