Where does “force” come from?

force (Middle French) comes from Old French force, from Latin fortia, from Latin fortis, from Old Latin forctis, from Proto-Italic forktis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

force (Middle French): force (physical effort; physical might)

Definitions

  1. force (physical effort; physical might)

Ancestry of “force”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchforcestrength; might
2Latinfortianominative neuter plural of fortis; accusative...
3Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
4Old Latinforctisstrong
5Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Italic forktis →Every word from Old Latin forctis →