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
- Capable of producing great physical force;...
Ancestry of “strong”, step by step
strong traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English strong
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | strong | strong; Alternative form of straunge |
| 2 | Old English | strang | strong |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | strang | severe, strict, rigorous; strong |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | strangaz | tight, strict, straight; strong |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | strengʰ- | to twist; rope, cord |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ster- | sterile, infertile |
via Old English strong
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | strong | strong |