English
constraint
Constraint 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. 842–1400constreinte
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreynt
- Englishearliest quotation 1841constraint
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. 842–1400constreinte
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreynt
- Englishearliest quotation 1841constraint
Earliest quotation: 1841, –November, Barnaby Rudge. (please specify the chapter number): “Although his blood so rose against this man, and…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’
strong, strength, string, 40 more
through Proto-Indo-European *stréngʰeti
through Proto-Italic *strengō
restrict, restrain, vasoconstriction, 32 more
through Latin stringō ‘to draw, bind or tie tight’
district, stress, strict, prestige, strain, strait, 38 more
through Latin cōnstringō ‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
Today it means
noun Something that constrains; a restriction.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- / constraint