Where does “distressing” come from?
Distressing derives from Middle English distressen, from Old French destrecier, from Latin distringo meaning "to pull apart," composed of the prefix dis- and a root from Proto-Indo-European strenk-.
distressing (English): Causing distress; upsetting; distressful; present...
Definitions
- Causing distress; upsetting; distressful; present...
Ancestry of “distressing”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | distress | discomfort; Serious danger; An aversive state of... |
| 2 | Middle English | distressen | — |
| 3 | Old French | destrecier | to distress |
| 4 | Latin | distringō | to stretch out or apart |
| 5 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 6 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 7 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |