Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overworn” come from?

overworn (English) comes from English worn, from English wear, from Middle English werien, from Old English wyrġan, from Proto-Germanic wurgijaną, from Proto-Germanic wargaz, from Proto-Indo-European werǵʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European wēr- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

overworn (English): worn out

Definitions

  1. worn out

Ancestry of “overworn”, 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- →