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Etymology data from Wiktionary via Wiktextract (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chinese character data from the 說文解字, the Taiwan MOE 國語辭典簡編本 (CC BY-ND 3.0 TW) and HSK/TOCFL lists.

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English

care

/kɛə/
Close attention; concern; responsibility.

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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    From Middle English care, from Old English caru, ċearu (“care, concern, anxiety, sorrow, grief, trouble”), from Proto-West Germanic *karu, from Proto-Germanic *karō (“care, sorrow, cry”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (“shout, call”). Cognate with Old Saxon cara, kara (“concern, action”), Middle High German kar (“sorrow, lamentation”), Icelandic kör (“sickbed”), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌰 (kara, “concern, care”). Related also to Dutch karig (“scanty”), German karg (“sparse, meagre, barren”), Latin garriō, Ancient Greek γῆρυς (gêrus). See also chary.

    Etymology 2

    From Middle English caren, carien, from Old English carian (“to sorrow, grieve, be troubled, be anxious, to care for, heed”), from Proto-West Germanic *karōn (“to care”), from Proto-Germanic *karōną (“to care”).

    Cognate with Old Saxon karōn (“to lament”), Middle High German karen, karn (“to complain, lament, grieve, mourn”), archaic German karen (“to groan, gasp”), Alemannic German karen, kären (“to groan, gasp”), Swedish kära (“to fall in love”), Icelandic kæra (“to care, like”), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐍉𐌽 (karōn, “to be concerned”).

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishcare
      • inheritedOld Englishcaru “anxiety, care, worry; grief, sorrow”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*karu
          • inheritedProto-Germanic*karō
            • derivedProto-Indo-European*ǵeh₂r- “to call, cry”
    • inheritedMiddle Englishcaren
      • inheritedOld Englishcarian “to sorrow, grieve, be troubled, be anxious, to care for, heed”
        • inheritedProto-West Germanic*karōn “to care”
          • inheritedProto-Germanic*karōną “to care”

    Related: Old Saxon cara, Middle High German kar, Icelandic kör, Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌰, Dutch karig, German karg, Latin garriō, Ancient Greek γῆρυς, Old Saxon karōn, Middle High German karen, German karen, Alemannic German karen, Swedish kära, Icelandic kæra, Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐍉𐌽

    Words built on it: care home

    Meanings

    noun
    1. Close attention; concern; responsibility.
    2. Worry.
    3. Maintenance, upkeep.
    4. The treatment of those in need (especially as a profession).
    5. The state of being cared for by others.
    6. The object of watchful attention or anxiety.
    verb
    1. To be concerned (about), to have an interest (in); to feel concern (about).
    2. To want, to desire; to like; to be inclined towards or interested in.
    3. To be affected by, to treat as relevant for a subsequent course of action.
    4. (with for) To look after or look out for.
    5. To mind; to object.

    Sources

    • Wiktionary (via Wiktextract / kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
    • Wiktionary: care