cringe

Where does the word "cringe" come from? It comes from Old English cringan, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Cringe’s story begins in Old English: cringan meant “to fall, yield.” In poems such as 'The Battle of Maldon' it meant to fall in battle. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as crengen. Came to mean to bend or cower. It reached English by 1500s as cringe. Much later, in the 2010s, internet slang made it an adjective meaning 'embarrassing'. Today, cringe means to shrink back in fear or embarrassment.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 700s-1000s cringan "to fall, yield", in poems such as 'The Battle of Maldon' it meant to fall in battle.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1200s crengen "to bend, cower", came to mean to bend or cower.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s cringe "to shrink back", much later, in the 2010s, internet slang made it an adjective meaning 'embarrassing'.