English

strength

Strength comes from Old English strengþu, from Proto-West Germanic *strangiþu, from *strang ‘strong’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘to twist’.

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘to twist; rope, cord’reconstructed
Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*strangaz‘tight, strict; strong’reconstructed
Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*strang‘strong’reconstructed
Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*strangiþu‘strength’reconstructed
Old Englishc. 450–1150strengþu‘strength’
Middle Englishc. 1150–1500strengthe
Englishearliest quotation 1526strength

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘to twist; rope, cord’reconstructed
Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*strangaz‘tight, strict; strong’reconstructed
Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*strang‘strong’reconstructed
Proto-West Germanic, derivedc. 200–500 CE*strangiþu‘strength’reconstructed
Old Englishc. 450–1150strengþu‘strength’
Middle Englishc. 1150–1500strengthe
Englishearliest quotation 1526strength

Earliest quotation: 1526, [William Tyndale, The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible): “ſtrengthed with all myght / thꝛowe hys gloꝛious power…”

Formed from strong + -th

Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘taut’

Proto-Germanic *strangaz ‘tight’

Proto-West Germanic *strang ‘severe’

Old English strang

Middle English strong

English strong

Linked words

Today it means

noun The quality or degree of being strong.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- / strength

Shirt and support for this word

strengthstrength

Lineage

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *ster- ‘stiff, rigid’

through Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘pulled tight, straight, constricted’

through Proto-Germanic *strangaz ‘tight, strict, straight’

through Proto-West Germanic *strang ‘strong’

Today it means

strength