English
overconstrain
Overconstrain 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 tight together, to tie together’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstringō‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400constreindre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreinen
- English1500–presentconstrain
- Englishtodayoverconstrain
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 tight together, to tie together’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstringō‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400constreindre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constreinen
- English1500–presentconstrain
- Englishtodayoverconstrain
A compound of over- + constrain
Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’
…
Latin stringō ‘to draw, bind or tie tight’
Latin cōnstringō ‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
Old French constreindre
Middle English constreinen
English constrain
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’
strong, strength, string, 39 more
through Proto-Indo-European *stréngʰeti
through Proto-Italic *strengō
restrict, vasoconstriction, 31 more
through Latin stringō ‘to draw tight together, to tie together’
district, stress, strict, prestige, strait, restrain, 36 more
through Latin cōnstringō ‘to bind together with fetters, to fetter, bind’
Today it means
verb To apply excessive constraints (to).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- / overconstrain