care

Meanings

Noun

• Grief, sorrow.
• Close attention; concern; responsibility.
• Worry.
• Maintenance, upkeep.
• The treatment of those in need (especially as a profession).
• The state of being cared for by others.
• The object of watchful attention or anxiety.

Verb

• To be concerned (about), to have an interest (in); to feel concern (about).
• To want, to desire; to like; to be inclined towards.
• For it to matter to, or make any difference to.
• (with for) To look after or look out for.
• To mind; to object.

Origin

• From Middle English care, from Old English caru, ċearu, from Proto-Germanic *karō, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r-. Cognate with Old Saxon cara, kara, Middle High German kar, Icelandic kör, Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌰. Related also to Dutch karig, German karg, Latin garriō, Ancient Greek γῆρυς. See also chary.
• From Middle English caren, carien, from Old English carian, from Proto-West Germanic *karōn, from Proto-Germanic *karōną.
• Cognate with Middle High German karn, Alemannic German karen, kären, Swedish kära, Icelandic kæra, Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐍉𐌽.