care
/kɛər/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*karō — lament, outcry, grief
Overview
Meaning Now
- Serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.
- The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
- Serious mental attention or concern; anxiety or worry.
Literal older meaning
lament, cry, or sorrow
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
caru
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
Originally carrying connotations of sorrow or grieving (as seen in Old English 'caru'), the word shifted during the Middle English period to include the senses of mental preoccupation and anxiety, eventually evolving to encompass the positive sense of active protection or responsible supervision.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*karō
“lament, sorrow”
- Old English
caru
“sorrow, anxiety, trouble”
- Middle English
care
“worry, mental distress, custody”
- Modern English
care
“attention, protection, charge”
Connections
Word parts
care
root
grief, concern, attention
Related across languages
Old High German
kara
lament
Old Norse
kera
lament, wail
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.