English word worry comes from Proto-Indo-European *wrū-, Proto-Indo-European *wes-, Proto-Indo-European *werg̑ʰ-, Proto-Indo-European - -éyeti, Proto-Indo-European *werģʰ-, and later Proto-Germanic *warjaną (To thwart, to stop. To ward off, to defend against.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *wrū- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to cover, defend, guard, to cover, shelter, defend, guard, shut |
| *wes- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | fat, moisture, to dress, stab, to stick, prick, pierce, sting, moist, wet |
| *werg̑ʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| - -éyeti | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *werģʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| *warjaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To thwart, to stop. To ward off, to defend against. |
| *wazōną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To continue; last. To stay; abide. |
| *wargijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To curse. To fordeem; condemn. |
| *wargaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Outlaw, criminal. |
| werian | Old English (ang) | To defend, protect. |
| *woséyeti | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | To clothe, to put clothes onto. |
| wergan | Old English (ang) | |
| wiergan | Old English (ang) | |
| *wazjaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To clothe, dress. |
| werian | Old English (ang) | To wear. |
| werian | Old English (ang) | To defend, protect To wear. |
| *wergʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| werȝen | Middle English (enm) | |
| worry | English (en) | (intransitive) To be troubled, to give way to mental anxiety.. (transitive) Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress.. (transitive) To harass; to irritate or distress.. (transitive) To seize or shake by the throat, especially of a dog or wolf.. (transitive) To touch repeatedly, to fiddle with.. (transitive, obsolete, except in Scots) To strangle. A strong [...] |
| *wurgijaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To strangle. |
| wyrġan | Old English (ang) | |
| wyrgan | Old English (ang) | (clarification of this definition is being sought) to worry. To strangle, to throttle. |