buttress
Translation
to support, to reinforce, to bolster
Examples
The new data buttresses his theory.
The new data buttresses his theory.
They buttressed the wall with steel beams.
They buttressed the wall with steel beams.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to support or reinforce (sth.) The new evidence buttresses the claim.
Similar Words
Synonyms: bolster, fortify, uphold
Etymology
From Old French 'bouter', meaning 'to push' or 'to strike'. It relates to the architectural noun 'buttress', a support that 'pushes back' against a wall.
Memory Tips
Think of adding a physical buttress to a wall to support it. The verb extends this idea to supporting arguments, theories, etc.