Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “strong” come from?

Strong comes from Middle English strong, from Old English streng, from Proto-Germanic *strangaz, from Proto-Indo-European *streng-, meaning to pull tight or strain.

strong (English): Capable of producing great physical force;...

Definitions

  1. Capable of producing great physical force;...

Ancestry of “strong”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstrongstrong; Alternative form of straunge
2Old Englishstrangstrong
3Proto-West Germanicstrangsevere, strict, rigorous; strong
4Proto-Germanicstrangaztight, strict, straight; strong
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
6Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile

Words derived from “strong”

  • strongman
  • strongbox
  • strongpoint
  • strongroom
  • semistrong
  • superstrong
  • strongish
  • overstrong
  • ultrastrong
  • strongside
  • strongback
  • strongwoman
  • stronghand
  • nonstrong
  • unstrong
  • antistrong
  • ultrastrongly
  • strongling
  • electrostrong
  • stronk
  • strong-arm
  • stronglink
  • strong-handed
  • strong-handedness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →