English
strong
Strong comes from Middle English strong, from Old English strang, from Proto-Germanic *strangaz ‘tight’, from PIE *strengʰ- ‘taut’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘taut’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*strangaz‘tight’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*strang‘severe’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150strang
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500strong
- Englishearliest quotation 1558same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*strengʰ-‘taut’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*strangaz‘tight’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*strang‘severe’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150strang
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500strong
- Englishearliest quotation 1558same form
Earliest quotation: 1558, John Knox: “[…] but grounding him ſelfe vpon ſtrong reaſons, to…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- ‘taut, stiff, tight’
district, stress, strict, string, strain, prestige, strait, 46 more
through Proto-Germanic *strangaz ‘tight, strict, straight, strong’
through Proto-West Germanic *strang ‘severe, strict, rigorous, strong’
Today it means
adj Capable of producing great physical force.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- / strong