Emily Dickinson Lexicon

STRONG, a. [Sax. strong, strang or streng; from the latter is formed strength; G. strenge; D. and Dan. streng; Sw. sträng, strict, severe, rigid. As n is casual in this word, the original orthography was strag, streg, or strog, coinciding with L. strictus, stringo. The sense of the radical word is to stretch, strain, draw, and probably from the root of stretch and reach. We observe in all the kindred dialects on the continent, the sense of the word is somewhat different from that of the English. The Russ. strogei, strict, rigid, severe, retains the original orthography without n.]

1. Having physical active power, or great physical power; having the power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous. A patient is recovering from sickness, but is not yet strong enough to walk. A strong man will lift twice his own weight. That our oxen may be strong to labor. – Ps. cxliv. 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. Moving with rapidity; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; we had a strong tide against us.
7. Hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution.
8. Powerful; forcible; cogent; adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example or instance. He used strong language.
9. Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong whig or tory. Her mother, ever strong against that match. – Shak.
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; strong coffee.
11. Full of spirit; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
12. Affecting the sight forcibly; as, strong colors.
13. Affecting the taste forcibly; as, the strong flavor of onions.
14. Affecting the smell powerfully; as, a strong scent.
15. Not of easy digestion; solid; as, strong meat. – Heb. v.
16. Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a custom grown strong by time.
17. Violent; vehement; earnest. Who in the days of his flesh, when be offered up prayers with strong crying and tears. – Heb. v.
18. Able; furnished with abilities. I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism. – Dryden.
19. Having great force of mind, of intellect or of 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.
20. Having great force; comprising much in few words. Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song, / As high, as sweet, as easy and as strong. – Smith.
21. Bright; glaring; vivid; as, a strong light.
22. Powerful to the extent of force named; as, an army ten thousand strong.