Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hard” come from?

Hard derives from Middle English hard, from Old English heard, from Proto-Germanic harduz, from Proto-Indo-European kert-.

hard (English): Having a severe property; presenting difficulty;...

Definitions

  1. Having a severe property; presenting difficulty;...

Ancestry of “hard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchhardihardy; tough; durable
2Old Frenchhardirto harden
3Frankishhardijanto harden, to make hard
4Proto-Germanichardijanąto make hard, strong; to harden
5Proto-Germanicharduzhard; brave
6Proto-Indo-Europeankert-times; to weave, twist together; time
7Proto-Turkic*keŕ-—

Words derived from “hard”

  • harder
  • hardware
  • hardwood
  • hardworking
  • hardcover
  • hardcore
  • hardback
  • hardwired
  • hardheaded
  • hardline
  • hardball
  • hardhearted
  • hardscrabble
  • hardpan
  • hardbound
  • hardboard
  • hardpressed
  • hardtop
  • blowhard
  • hardheartedness
  • hardscape
  • hardpacked
  • hardish
  • hardhead
Every word from Proto-Turkic *keŕ- →