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The "strength" sense is from Proto-Sino-Tibetan*k-ra(“strength; to win; classifier for people”). Cognate with Old Chinese力 (OC *rɯɡ, “strength”) (STEDT). Sagart relates the "free" sense to 暇 (OC *ɡraːs, “leisure”).
This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “The "free" sense is considered equivalent to the "strength" sense by MED, perhaps via semantic extension "strength" > "capability" > "without restrictions, free" or something similar. However, STEDT appears to separate the "free" sense, and doesn't link it to any root (â: "vacant; free, disengaged"), and Luce doesn't mention it either. If it is etymologically different, could it be related to Old Chinese虛 (OC *kʰa, *qʰa, “empty, void”)? Old Chinese uvulars correspond to "zero" in Burmese, so this seems possible, while Sagart's theory seems phonetically problematic.”