Reinforcement

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɹiːɪnˈfɔːsmənt/

Definitions

1. The process of making something stronger or more effective by adding support or strength ; additional troops or resources sent to support military operations or personnel
2. The act of increasing strength or resilience in an object, idea, or behavior ; supplementary soldiers or supplies deployed to bolster forces in combat
3. The enhancement of durability or effectiveness by providing extra backing or fortification ; backup forces or reinforcements provided to assist in military engagements

Etymology: Reinforcement is a plain formation: the verb "reinforce" with the suffix "-ment" attached. The verb itself is built from "re-", meaning "again" or "back," and "inforce," an older English verb meaning to strengthen, which came into English through Old French from Latin "in-" plus "fortis," "strong." So the word is essentially "strengthening again," a fresh supply of strength added to something already in place. The suffix does the grammatical work. "-ment" turns a verb into a noun naming the act or result of the action, a pattern inherited from Latin "-mentum" and passed through Old French into Middle English. Adding it to "reinforce" yields a noun that covers both senses in use today: the physical act of fortifying something, and the extra material or people brought in to do it, as when a military commander sends reinforcements to a struggling position.

Synonyms: support, strengthening, augmentation

Antonyms: weaken, diminution, reduction