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buttress

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buttress


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Buttress  \But"tress\,  n.  [OE.  butrasse  boterace  fr  F.  bouter 
  to  push  cf  OF  bouteret  (nom.  sing.  and  acc.  pl  bouterez) 
  buttress.  See  {Butt}  an  end  and  cf  {Butteris}.] 
  1.  (Arch.)  A  projecting  mass  of  masonry,  used  for  resisting 
  the  thrust  of  an  arch,  or  for  ornament  and  symmetry. 
 
  Note:  When  an  external  projection  is  used  merely  to  stiffen  a 
  wall,  it  is  a  pier. 
 
  2.  Anything  which  supports  or  strengthens.  ``The  ground 
  pillar  and  buttress  of  the  good  old  cause  of 
  nonconformity.''  --South. 
 
  {Flying  buttress}.  See  {Flying  buttress}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Buttress  \But"tress\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Buttressed}  (?);  p. 
  pr  &  vb  n.  {Buttressing}.] 
  To  support  with  a  buttress;  to  prop;  to  brace  firmly. 
 
  To  set  it  upright  again  and  to  prop  and  buttress  it  up 
  for  duration.  --Burke. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  buttress 
  n  :  usually  or  stone  or  brick;  supports  the  wall  of  a  building 
  [syn:  {buttressing}] 
  v  :  make  stronger  or  defensible;  buttress  your  thesis" 




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