Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “careworn” come from?

Careworn derives from English care and English wear, from Old English caru and Old English werian, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots ǵeh₂r- and bʰew-.

careworn (English): Worn down by cares: showing the signs of...

Definitions

  1. Worn down by cares: showing the signs of...

Ancestry of “careworn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishworndamaged and shabby as a result of much use; past...
2EnglishwearTo carry or have equipped on or about one's body,...
3Middle Englishwerien—
4Old Englishwyrġan—
5Proto-Germanicwurgijanąto strangle
6Proto-Germanicwargazoutlaw, criminal; wolf
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵʰ-bind, squeeze; to bind, squeeze; to turn, twist,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →