Strong
/strɔŋ/noun
Having great physical power, force, or resistance; not weak.
Did you know?The word goes back to a Germanic root meaning “dense, compact, tight,” so its earliest sense was less about heroics and more about being packed solid enough to resist force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*strengʰ-
“to tighten, make firm”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*strangaz
“tight, firm, strong”
Old English
OE
strang
“powerful, violent, severe”
Middle English
ME
strong
“having great force or strength”
Modern English
English
strong
“having great physical power, force, or resistance”