Where does “self-care” come from?

self-care (English) comes from English Self, from Middle English salve, from Old English sealf, from Proto-West Germanic salbu, from Proto-Germanic salbō, from Proto-Indo-European solp-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European selp- — fat, oil.

self-care (English): The care given to oneself, especially to maintain one's physical or psychological well-being

Definitions

  1. The care given to oneself, especially to maintain one's physical or psychological well-being

Ancestry of “self-care”, step by step

self-care traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Self

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSelfHimself, herself, itself, themself, themselves; that specific (person mentioned)
2Middle EnglishsalveAlternative form of sauf
3Old Englishsealfsalve
4Proto-West Germanicsalbusalve, ointment
5Proto-Germanicsalbōsalve, ointment
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolp-éh₂
7Proto-Indo-Europeanselp-fat, oil

via English care

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcareGrief, sorrow; Close attention; concern;...
2Middle Englishcaregrief; sorrow
3Old Englishcaruworry, anxiety, care; sorrow, grief
4Proto-West Germanickarucare, worry
5Proto-Germanickarōcomplaint, lament, grievance, moan; worry,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵeh₂r-to shout, cry; exclamation; voice; to call, cry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European selp-Every word from Proto-Indo-European solp-éh₂Every word from Proto-Germanic salbō