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Origin and history of strong

strong(adj.)

Middle English strong, from Old English strang, of living things, body parts, "physically powerful;" of persons, "firm, bold, brave; constant, resolute; having authority, able to enforce one's will;" of medicines, poisons, "powerful in effect;" of winds, etc., "violent, forceful, severe," of wine, "having high alcohol content." The general sense is "possessing or imparting force or energy; intense or intensified in degree."

It is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *strangaz (source also of Old Norse strangr "strong," Dutch streng "strict, rigorous," Old High German strang "strong, bold, hard," German streng "strict, rigorous"). This is possibly from a PIE *strenk- "tight, narrow" (see string (n.)).

Formerly with comparative and superlative strenger, strengest (compare old/elder/eldest). It was used by late 12c. in reference to feelings, emotions; also of objects, castles, etc., "sturdy, firmly fixed or constituted." By 1690s of mental impressions or memories. Of odors from c. 1200. By 1690s in reference to emphatic language.

From 1610s as "having or consisting of a large number." Written with a number, "to the extent of" (thousands strong) it is by 1580s.

The grammatical sense, in reference to noun case distinctions and verb inflections, is attested by 1841, translating German stark, which was used in a grammatical sense by Jakob Grimm (the notion of "strong" and "weak" better fits German inflections).

As a noun, "one who is physically strong" (c. 1300), also collective (as in only the strong can survive, attested by 1857).

In Middle English, in addition to offensive odors, it was used of unfortunate events, bad news, harsh laws, bad roads, and bad dreams.

Strong suit "what one is good at" (1865) is an image from card-playing; to be strong in a certain suit of cards, "holding commanding or a large number of" its cards, is by 1862.

Strong point is by 1840; modern military use is from 1915, translating German feste stellung.

Strong man "man of great strength" (especially one who displays it professionally) is recorded from 1784; as a surname it is attested from late 13c. The meaning "dominating man in a political organization" is from 1859.

strong(adv.)

Middle English stronge, from Old English strange, stronge "with physical force, violently, severely, furiously, bravely" (co-existing with strongly), from the source of strong (adj.).

It is attested by mid-13c. as "exceedingly, greatly." Strongly has largely replaced it except in verbal expressions such as come on strong "be aggressive in behavior," originally come it strong (1812). Going strong (adj.) "vigorous, very active" (1898) is from racing.

Entries linking to strong

string(n.)

Middle English streng, from Old English streng "line, slender cord, thick thread," also a rope, also the string of a bow or harp, which tightly stretched produces the tone; in plural "tackle, rigging;" also "lineage, race." This is from Proto-Germanic *strangiz (source also of Old Norse strengr, Danish streng, Middle Dutch strenge, Dutch streng, Old High German strang, German Strang "rope, cord"). This is reconstructed to be from *strang- "taut, stiff," from a PIE root *strenk- "tight, narrow."

The sense gradually restricted by early Middle English to lines that are smaller than a rope. The meaning "a number of objects arranged in a file or on a string" is recorded by late 15c.; of successes, disasters, etc., "continuous series or succession," by 1710.

The Old English meaning "ligaments, tendons" is preserved in hamstring (n.), heart-strings.

To pull strings "control the course of affairs" (1860) is an image from marionette theater.

The meaning "limitation, stipulation" (1888) is American English, in political jargon, and could be from the (then-)common April Fool's prank of setting down a money-purse as though dropped, then from seclusion tugging it away with a hidden string when someone stoops to pick it up. Hence the figurative phrase no strings attached (by 1951), though this is confusable with the notion of puppet strings.

First string, second string, etc. in athletics (1863) is said to be from archers carrying a spare bowstring in the event the other broke. The figure of have two strings to one's bow "have alternative resources" is in English by 1540s.

Strings "stringed instruments" is attested from mid-14c.; string-band "band composed of stringed instruments" is by 1889, American English. String bean is from 1759, probably so called for its fibrous threads; string bikini is by 1974, for the straps that hold the fabric together.

strongly(adv.)

Middle English strongli, from Old English stranglice "firmly, stoutly; vehemently;" see strong (adj.) + -ly (2). From late 14c. as "intensely, overpoweringly." By 1530s as "exceedingly."