Where does “worry” come from?
worry (Scots) comes from Middle English worien, from Old English wyrġan, from Proto-Germanic wurgijaną, from Proto-Germanic wargaz, from Proto-Indo-European werǵʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
worry (Scots): To strangle
Definitions
- To strangle
Ancestry of “worry”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | worien | — |
| 2 | Old English | wyrġan | to strangle |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | wurgijaną | to strangle |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wargaz | outlaw, criminal; wolf |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | werǵʰ- | bind, squeeze; to bind, squeeze; to turn, twist,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |