Where does “carefree” come from?

Carefree combines English care from Old English caru and English free from Old English frēo, both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning concern and to love or favor respectively.

carefree (English): Without cares or worries; free of concern or...

Definitions

  1. Without cares or worries; free of concern or...

Ancestry of “carefree”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-freefree from; devoid of; without
2Middle English-fre
3Old English-frēo
4Old Englishfrēofree, joyful
5Proto-Germanic*frī
6Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please

Words derived from “carefree

Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHósEvery word from Proto-Germanic frijaz
carefree — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer