English
constrain
Constrain comes from Latin cōnstringō ‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘to twist’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stréngʰetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*strengōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstringō‘to draw, bind or tie tight’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstringō‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400constreindre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreinen
- Englishearliest quotation 2020constrain
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘to twist’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stréngʰetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*strengōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstringō‘to draw, bind or tie tight’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstringō‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400constreindre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreinen
- Englishearliest quotation 2020constrain
Earliest quotation: 2020, Philip Haigh, Is there relief to congestion along Castlefield Corridor?: “But it's not just Castlefield Corridor capacity that constrains…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’
strong, strength, string, 43 more
through Proto-Indo-European *stréngʰeti
through Proto-Italic *strengō
through Latin stringō ‘to draw, bind or tie tight’
district, stress, strict, prestige, strait, restrain, 39 more
through Latin cōnstringō ‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
Today it means
verb To force physically, by strong persuasion or pressuring; to compel; to oblige.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- / constrain