strong English · revision 2539

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Old English strang, Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *strangaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /strɒŋ/, US /strɑːŋ/, /strɔːŋ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|strong]], [[inh|ang|strang]] (also [[m|ang|strong]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*strangaz]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[osx|strang|t=strong, bold, severe]], [[non|strangr|t=strong, severe]], [[nl|streng|t=strict]] and [[de|streng|t=strict, rigorous]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Etymonline suggests a possible origin in [[ine-pro|*strenk-|t=tight, narrow]],^(Etymonline) and Klein and Merriam-Webster connect it with Latin [[m|la|stringere|t=to draw tight, bind]].^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[string]], [[strength]] and [[stringent]].^(Klein 1966)^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of living beings and their bodies, physically powerful: Old English ''strang'', about 725 in ''Beowulf'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 888.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English ''strang'' also meant “firm, bold, resolute”, of medicines and poisons “powerful in effect”, of winds “violent”, and of wine “high in alcohol”.^(Etymonline) The comparative and superlative were formerly ''strenger'' and ''strengest''.^(Etymonline) By the late 12th century the word was used of feelings, and of objects such as castles, “sturdy, firmly built”.^(Etymonline) Physically robust is from before 1225.^(OED 1989) Of smells it is from about 1200,^(Etymonline) of mental impressions and of emphatic language from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) With a number, “to the extent of” (''a thousand strong''), it is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and “having a large number” from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) The grammatical sense, of verbs that change their vowel, is from 1841, translating Jakob Grimm's German ''stark''.^(Etymonline) The adverb ''strong'', “with force”, is from about 900,^(OED 1989) and ''come it strong'' from 1812.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''strang'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 900 – adverb.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 12th century – of feelings; of buildings.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1200 – of smells.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – ''a thousand strong''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – of language.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1812 – ''come it strong''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – in grammar.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Physically powerful; able to exert great force.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Healthy and [[robust]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Economically sound: ''a strong currency''.^(AHD)

+ # Having force of character, will or intelligence.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Able to resist strain; solid, durable.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Intense or concentrated: ''strong coffee'', ''a strong smell''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Forceful, emphatic: ''strong language''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Numbering a given amount: ''an army 10,000 strong''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of a verb, forming its past tense by a change of vowel, as ''sing, sang''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a strong, vigorous manner: ''going strong''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[strongish]]

+ * [[strongly]]

+ * [[strongness]]

+ * [[headstrong]]

+ * [[overstrong]]

+ * [[strongbox]]

+ * [[stronghold]]

+ * [[strongman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[strength]]

+ * [[string]]

+ * [[stringent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''strong'' with ''stout'', ''sturdy'', ''tough'', ''stalwart'' and ''tenacious'', of which ''strong'' is the most general.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}