force
/fɔːrs/
noun
Origin
Latin
fortis — strong, brave, powerful
Overview
Meaning Now
- physical strength or energy as an attribute of action or movement
- an organized body of military personnel
- coercion or compulsion, especially the use of physical power
Literal older meaning
strength, vigor
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
force
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word entered English following the Norman Conquest, reflecting the influx of Anglo-Norman legal and military terminology into the English language.
Evolution
- Latin
fortis
“strong”
- Vulgar Latin
fortia
“strength”
neuter plural used as a collective noun
- Old French
force
“strength, power, violence”
- Middle English
force
“power, physical strength”
Connections
Word parts
force
root
strength
Related across languages
French
strength
Italian
forza
strength
Spanish
fuerza
strength
Explore next
Related to force
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.