Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sore” come from?

Sore derives from Old French sor, from Latin super meaning "over," ultimately tracing through Latin securus and Ancient Greek ἀήρ, though the precise semantic development remains unclear.

sore (English): Causing pain or discomfort; painfully sensitive;...

Definitions

  1. Causing pain or discomfort; painfully sensitive;...

Ancestry of “sore”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsorAlternative form of sore; sorrel; A sorrel horse
2Old Englishsārpainful, grievous; ache, wound; sore, ache
3Proto-West Germanicsairpainful, sore; pain; wound
4Proto-Germanicsairąwound; sore
5Proto-Germanicsairazsore, painful
6Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂yro-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂y-to bind; to be fierce, afflict; to tie, bind

Words derived from “sore”

  • sorely
  • footsore
  • heartsore
  • bedsore
  • sorehead
  • soring
  • soreheaded
  • saddlesore
  • footsoreness
  • sorance
  • fucksore
  • earsore
  • soa
  • sua
  • soro
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂y- →