Where does “care” come from?

Care comes from Middle English care, from Old English caru, from Proto-Germanic karō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵeh₂r-.

care (English): Grief, sorrow; Close attention; concern;...

Definitions

  1. Grief, sorrow; Close attention; concern;...

Ancestry of “care”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcaregrief; sorrow
2Old Englishcaruworry, anxiety, care; sorrow, grief
3Proto-West Germanickarucare, worry
4Proto-Germanickarōcomplaint, lament, grievance, moan; worry,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵeh₂r-to shout, cry; exclamation; voice; to call, cry

Words derived from “care”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵeh₂r- →