speak of choice _viands_, cold _victuals_. _Nourishment_ and
_sustenance_ apply to whatever can be introduced into the system as a
means of sustaining life; we say of a convalescent, he is taking
_nourishment_. _Nutriment_ and _nutrition_ have more of scientific
reference to the vitalizing principles of various _foods_; thus, wheat
is said to contain a great amount of _nutriment_. _Regimen_ considers
_food_ as taken by strict rule, but applies more widely to the whole
ordering of life. _Fare_ is a general word for all table supplies, good
or bad; as, sumptuous _fare_; wretched _fare_. _Feed_, _fodder_, and
_provender_ are used only of the food of the lower animals, _feed_
denoting anything consumed, but more commonly grain, _fodder_ denoting
hay, cornstalks, or the like, sometimes called "long _feed_;"
_provender_ is dry _feed_, whether grain or hay, straw, etc. _Forage_
denotes any kind of _food_ suitable for horses and cattle, primarily as
obtained by a military force in scouring the country, especially an
enemy's country.

* * * * *

FORMIDABLE.

Synonyms:

dangerous, redoubted, terrible, tremendous.

That which is _formidable_ is worthy of fear if encountered or opposed;
as, a _formidable_ array of troops, or of evidence. _Formidable_ is a
word of more dignity than _dangerous_, and suggests more calm and
collected power than _terrible_; _formidable_ is less overwhelming than
_tremendous_. A loaded gun is _dangerous_; a park of artillery is
_formidable_; a charge of cavalry is _terrible_; the full shock of great
armies is _tremendous_. A _dangerous_ man is likely to do mischief, and
needs watching; a _formidable_ man may not be _dangerous_ if not
attacked; an enraged maniac is _terrible_; the force of ocean waves in a
storm, and the silent pressure in the ocean depths, are _tremendous_.

Antonyms:

contemptible, feeble, harmless, helpless, powerless, weak.
despicable,

Prepositions:

Formidable _by_ or _in_ numbers; _in_ strength; formidable _to_ the
enemy.

* * * * *

FORTIFICATION.

Synonyms:

castle, citadel, fastness, fort, fortress, stronghold.

_Fortification_ is the general word for any artificial defensive work; a
_fortress_ is a _fortification_ of especial size and strength; a
_fortress_ is regarded as permanent, and is ordinarily an independent
work; a _fort_ or _fortification_ may be temporary; a _f