Where does “constraint” come from?

Constraint comes from Middle English constreynt, from Old French constreinte, the past participle of Old French constreindre, from Latin constringere, meaning to bind together.

constraint (English): Something that constrains; a restriction; An...

Definitions

  1. Something that constrains; a restriction; An...

Ancestry of “constraint”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishconstreynt
2Old Frenchconstreinte
3LatinconstringōTo draw or bind together, to bind, tie up
4Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
12Old High Germankuti
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “constraint

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-