Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “worrisome” come from?

Worrisome derives from English worry, which combines Old English sum (some) and Proto-Indo-European tewh₂- (to push or thrust), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European sem- (one).

worrisome (English): Causing worry; perturbing or vexing; Inclined to...

Definitions

  1. Causing worry; perturbing or vexing; Inclined to...

Ancestry of “worrisome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishworryTo be troubled; to give way to mental anxiety or...
2Middle Englishworien—
3Old Englishwyrġan—
4Proto-Germanicwurgijanąto strangle
5Proto-Germanicwargazoutlaw, criminal; wolf
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵʰ-bind, squeeze; to bind, squeeze; to turn, twist,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “worrisome”

  • worrisomely
  • worrisomeness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →