toughness
/ˈtʌfnəs/
noun
Origin
Old English
tōh — tough, tenacious, pliable
Overview
Meaning Now
- The quality or state of being physically strong, durable, and not easily broken or cut.
- The quality of having a determined, resilient, or unyielding character.
Literal older meaning
the state of being capable of enduring strain or impact
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
toughnesse
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The root 'tough' is a Germanic word related to 'tether'. Originally describing physical pliability or stickiness, it evolved to represent resilience against physical or mental stress. The abstract noun 'toughness' entered the language during the Renaissance period as English vocabulary expanded to describe nuanced character traits.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*tanhu-
“held together, tenacious”
- Old English
tōh
“tough, sticky, tenacious”
Representing the root of the adjective
- Middle English
tough
“difficult to chew; resilient”
Development of the base adjective
- 16th Century English
toughnesse
“the quality of being tough”
Addition of the abstract noun suffix -ness
Connections
Word parts
tough
root
resilient, strong
ness
suffix
suffix forming nouns denoting a state or quality
Related across languages
Dutch
taai
tough, tenacious
German
zäh
tough
Explore next
Related to toughness
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.