Etymology Explorer › Middle French

Where does “constraint” come from?

constraint (Middle French) comes from Old French constraint, from Latin constrictus, from Latin constringō, from Latin cōn-, from Latin cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic kom, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Ancestry of “constraint”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchconstraint—
2Latinconstrictusbound together; tied up; inhibited
3Latinconstringō—
4Latincōn-—
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—
11Germankitt—
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”

  • contrainte
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →