streng

streng¹ strict

Pronunciation

• /strɛŋ/^[1]

Forms

streng (comparative strenger, superlative strengst)^[1]

Etymology

The word for “strict” is inherited from Middle Dutch strenge, inherited from Proto-Germanic *strangija- (“tight, strong”), beside *stranga-.^[2][1][3] The form without umlaut is older Middle Dutch stranc (“taut, unbending; strong, violent”), recorded in 1265–1270.^[2][4] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal explains the umlaut from stem forms in ⟨-ia⟩.^[5]

The same word is Old Saxon strang, Middle Low German strenge, Old High German strengi (modern German streng), West Frisian strang, Old English strang (modern English strong), Old Norse strangr and Swedish sträng, all meaning “strong, hard, severe” or the like.^[2][6] Kroonen takes the Germanic adjective as an o-grade formation beside the strong verb behind Latin stringō (“to bind fast, tighten”), and compares Latvian strangs (“brave”); the root is Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“to pull tight”).^[6][1] The original meaning was “drawn tight, stiff”, and the adjective is related to the noun streng² “strand”.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The EWN's first record is from 1432: dordeel Gods sal wesen stringe “God's judgement shall be strict”.^[2][7] Van der Sijs dates the sense “not indulgent” to 1437.^[8]

Semantic evolution

Late Middle Dutch used the adjective in several senses: “vigorous, bold” of a man in 1470, rendering Latin strenuus, “harsh, unfriendly” in 1477, and “grievous” in the phrase in strengher noot “in grave need” (1450–1500).^[2][7] In 1573 strenge oordeel and strenge wetten show the sense “unyielding, according to fixed principles”, and een strenge en scherpe koude “a severe, sharp cold” the use for weather.^[2] The older sense “tight, taut” is still found in 1655 and is now obsolete, as is “strong”, which survives only in the south.^[2][5]

In the 19th century came “strict, exact” (een strenge scheiding, 1838) and “austere, without ornament” of forms in art (1884).^[2] The derivative gestreng appears in the title Eedelen ende gestrengen Heer (1584) and later means the same as streng, now mostly in elevated writing.^[2]

The adjective was borrowed into Indonesian, Javanese, Balinese, Manado Malay and Papiamentu (strèn) in the sense “not indulgent”, and lives on in Afrikaans streng.^[9][1]

Timeline

• 1432 – Stringe “strict” is first recorded, of God's judgement.^[2][7]
• 1470 – It is used in the sense “vigorous, bold”.^[2][7]
• 1573 – Strenge wetten “strict laws” and een strenge en scherpe koude are recorded.^[2]
• 1584 – Gestreng appears in a title of nobility.^[2]
• 1838 – The sense “strict, exact” is recorded.^[2]
• 1884 – The sense “austere” is used of artistic forms.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. strict, severe: allowing little freedom, not indulgent.^[10][1][11]
2. Keeping exactly to rules or principles; rigorous.^[10][2]
3. Of weather, harsh, intense;^[10] strenge vorst is frost of −10 °C or below.^[10]

Word family

• gestreng
• strengheid
• verstrengen
• overstreng

streng² strand

Pronunciation

• /strɛŋ/^[1]

Forms

streng f or m (plural strengen, diminutive strengetje n)^[1]

Etymology

The word for “strand” is inherited from Middle Dutch strenc, inherited from Old Dutch strink, inherited from Proto-Germanic *strangi- (“cord, bundle of threads”).^[2][1][12] Middle Dutch also had strinc and strenge.^[2] The same word is Middle Low German strenc, Old Frisian streng (West Frisian string), Old English streng (modern English string) and Old Norse strengr (Swedish sträng), meaning “cord, bundle of threads”, in the older languages also “arm of the sea or a river” or “narrow strip of land”.^[2][6] Beside it stood the stem variant *stranga- without umlaut, in Old Dutch place names with ⟨strank⟩, Middle Dutch stranc (“arm of the sea or a river”), modern Dutch strang, Old High German strang (modern German Strang) and West Flemish strange (“beach”).^[2]

Franck–Van Wijk took the Middle Dutch forms with ⟨i⟩ and English ⟨string⟩ as possible ablaut forms.^[4] Van Haeringen showed that ⟨string⟩ regularly continues Middle English streng, so the Dutch forms with ⟨i⟩ are rather dialect variants.^[4][13] The noun is related to Latin stringō (“to draw tight, bind”) and to Ancient Greek στραγγός (strangós, “twisted”), from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“to twist together”).^[2][1] It is related to the adjective streng¹ “strict”, and through Latin to stringent and strikt.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Old Dutch the word is found only in place names: the EWN's first record is in Strinc, land near Cadzand in Zeeland, in 1177–1187.^[2][12][8] The Old Dutch Dictionary also lists the place name Uostringe of 826 in the Germanic part of Pas-de-Calais.^[12] The meaning there may be “narrow strip of land”, or, as in the other old Germanic languages, “arm of the sea or a river”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

As a common noun, Middle Dutch used it for plaits of hair (1300–1325), the four cords of a band (1340–1360), the lashes of a whip (1458) and a strand of seven threads (1470–1490).^[2] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal records the strand of a rope (1602), a string of coral beads (1661), a skein of yarn as sold (1717), a lock of hair (1566), and in anatomy an organ like a bundle of threads (1771), the use behind navelstreng “umbilical cord”.^[5] A streng was also a rope or chain for pulling, such as a bell rope or the trace that ties a draught animal to the vehicle.^[5][11] On Goeree-Overflakkee kort in de strengen staan was said for being kept on a short rein.^[14]

The noun was borrowed into Russian as strenga “strand of a rope”, into Javanese, Madurese and Makassarese for part of a horse's harness, and into Papiamentu as strèn (“tendril”).^[9]

Timeline

• 1177–1187 – The Old Dutch place name Strinc is recorded near Cadzand.^[2][8]
• 1300–1325 – Middle Dutch stringen are plaits of hair.^[2]
• 1470–1490 – A strenc is a strand of seven threads.^[2]
• 1566 – Streng is used of a lock of hair.^[5]
• 1602 – It means the strand of a ship's cable.^[5]
• 1717 – It is a skein of yarn.^[5]
• 1771 – It is used in anatomy.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A skein or strand: a bundle of wound threads, wool, hair or the like.^[10][1][11]
2. A string of beads or small stones.^[10][11]
3. (anatomy) An organ or part of an organ that looks like a bundle of threads.^[10][11]
4. A strong leather strap by which a draught animal is harnessed to a cart; a trace.^[11][5]

Word family

• navelstreng
• zaadstreng
• haarstreng
• zenuwstreng