Where does “formidable” come from?
formidable (Middle French) comes from Latin formidabilis, from Latin formido, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.
Ancestry of “formidable”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | formidabilis | Causing or inspiring fear, terrible, frightening,... |
| 2 | Latin | formido | I dread or fear; I am afraid of or for; fear,... |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |