zwingen

Signification

1. (class-3,reflexive,strong,transitive) to force; to compel; to make (someone do something)
2. (class-3,intransitive,strong) to necessitate; to call for

Coupé comme

zwin‧gen

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/ˈtsvɪŋən/

Étymologie

From Middle High German twingen, from Old High German dwingan, from Proto-Germanic *þwinganą, related to *þwangiz (“clamp, strap”).
Cognates include Dutch dwingen, Norwegian tvinge, Swedish tvinga, Icelandic þvinga. What may be perceived as a repetition of the consonant shift (from Germanic *þ → Old High German d → Middle High German t → modern German z) is a regular development that affected most words with Old High German dw- and tw- (compare Zwerg, but see also quengeln for a counterexample). Compare English twinge.