Strengthen can be used as a synonym for strengthen or reinforce.
The first meaning of the verb afianzar mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) refers to granting bail for a subject to satisfy an obligation or to protect property or interests.
Although this use does not appear frequently in everyday speech, when we look at the field of real estate we see that the word deposit is common, since it represents a payment made by a tenant to the owner of the home they wish to rent, as guarantee against potential damages or delays in the payment of rent, among other issues.
In this context, the term is related to endorsement , which we generally understand as the guarantee that an individual offers about the qualities or conduct of another, in this case the tenant. The law defines guarantee as the obligation that a person acquires to comply with certain commitments made by a third party, in the event that the latter does not do so.
What is strengthening
The most common use of the concept, however, is associated with the action of supporting or certifying something . For example: “The government intends to strengthen its position at the international level through a series of bilateral agreements,” “The non-governmental organization received a subsidy of 200,000 pesos so that it can strengthen its territorial work,” “I think we must strengthen our game.” to have a better chance of moving on to the next round.”
The idea of securing, therefore, is used in different contexts. Suppose a man and a woman meet at a bar and start hanging out frequently. Thus, little by little, they begin to establish a sentimental bond. Months later, with the aim of strengthening the relationship, they both decide to move in together. In this case, “strengthening” means strengthening the couple and strengthening the bond even more, perhaps with the intention of getting married or having children in the future.
A club , on the other hand, may seek to strengthen its operation by obtaining financial resources and formalizing its activities. With a legally constituted board of directors and monetary funds to cover expenses and make investments, the institution can strengthen its position and plan future actions that lead to growth in its number of associates and its services.
In some contexts, entrenching involves taking a formal or administrative step.
The concept in interpersonal relationships
Strengthening interpersonal relationships is essential for them to survive. The first stage of a courtship, for example, is characterized by the lack of clarity in the perception that each person has of the other: since at the beginning there are no deep feelings, but rather an intense and spontaneous attraction, the union focuses more on the chemistry than in the small details.
Taking the step of living together entails a series of changes that are much more complex than the simple fact of “seeing each other every day.” Knowing another person's habits in depth can be very negative for a relationship, to the point of ruining it completely; On the other hand, if there is sufficient willingness on both sides to adapt, then this decision may be ideal to strengthen the bond and take it to a higher level.
Strengthen business
But this also occurs outside of romantic relationships; In business it is also important to strengthen ties to obtain better results, although the parameters to take into account are very different.
While with a couple our objectives always aim at mutual and genuine well-being , when dealing with a client or a supplier we seek to obtain the greatest benefit at the lowest price. In any case, the secret to strengthening a relationship lies in paying attention to the little things, to those signs that tell us how to proceed to make it grow, to prevent it from stagnating.