The noun “redoubt” is etymologically unrelated to “doubt” and “redoubtable”. Here’s its etymology: c.1600, from Fr. redoute, from It. ridotto “place of retreat,” from M.L. reductus “place of refuge, retreat,” from L. reduct-, pp. stem of reducere “to lead or bring back” (see reduce). The -b- was added by influence of unrelated English doubt.
john van sickle:
August 13th, 2012 at 9:36 am
bravo Brian for reducing ‘redoubt’ to ‘reductus': ah, etymology’s traps
Jessie D:
June 17th, 2019 at 10:11 am
I came across the word in my Bible – Psalm 46 “ Come consider the works of The Lord, the REDOUBTABLE deeds He has done on the earth.
Olivier Marchetta:
August 3rd, 2021 at 8:42 am
Redoutable in French means that a person or a weapon will induce a second (re) doubt into someon’s thoughts.
For example, if you say “I have no doubts that I will beat this opponent easily!” then one could reply “Be careful, this opponent is redoutable”. Meaning: well, you should revise your doubts about it. Redoubtable.
Leave a comment
Search us!
Search The Word Detective and our family of websites:
This is the easiest way to find a column on a particular word or phrase.
To search for a specific phrase, put it between quotation marks. (note: JavaScript must be turned on in your browser to view results.)
Ask a Question!
Puzzled by Posh?
Confounded by Cattycorner?
Baffled by Balderdash?
Flummoxed by Flabbergast?
Perplexed by Pandemonium?
Nonplussed by... Nonplussed?
Annoyed by Alliteration?
Brian C.:
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:21 am
The noun “redoubt” is etymologically unrelated to “doubt” and “redoubtable”. Here’s its etymology: c.1600, from Fr. redoute, from It. ridotto “place of retreat,” from M.L. reductus “place of refuge, retreat,” from L. reduct-, pp. stem of reducere “to lead or bring back” (see reduce). The -b- was added by influence of unrelated English doubt.
john van sickle:
August 13th, 2012 at 9:36 am
bravo Brian for reducing ‘redoubt’ to ‘reductus': ah, etymology’s traps
Jessie D:
June 17th, 2019 at 10:11 am
I came across the word in my Bible – Psalm 46 “ Come consider the works of The Lord, the REDOUBTABLE deeds He has done on the earth.
Olivier Marchetta:
August 3rd, 2021 at 8:42 am
Redoutable in French means that a person or a weapon will induce a second (re) doubt into someon’s thoughts.
For example, if you say “I have no doubts that I will beat this opponent easily!” then one could reply “Be careful, this opponent is redoutable”. Meaning: well, you should revise your doubts about it. Redoubtable.