In the sentence provided, the word "fortified" can be defined based on the context clues as "built up." When the sentence mentions that the loud cheers and boos of the crowd fortified the confidence of the home team, it implies that these actions strengthened or built up the confidence of the home team. The word "fortified" in this context indicates that the cheers and boos made the home team feel more confident and supported.
Here's how you can break down the meaning of "fortified" based on the context:
1. Loud cheers and boos are expressions of support or disapproval from the crowd.
2. The impact of these expressions on the home team's confidence is described as fortifying.
3. To fortify means to strengthen, build up, or enhance something, in this case, the confidence of the home team.
Therefore, in the context of the sentence provided, "fortified" means to strengthen or build up, indicating that the crowd's reactions boosted the confidence of the home team.