casework
UK[ˈkeɪswɜːk]US[ˈkeɪswɜːrk]
n
The work of providing personal help and advice to people with social or personal problems, typically carried out by a social worker.
Morpheme Breakdown
case
work
case
work
Etymology
The term 'casework' is a compound noun formed within Modern English from two native Germanic elements, though the first element has a deeper Latin origin. 'Case' entered English via Old French from the Latin casus, meaning 'a fall' or 'an occurrence', which evolved to signify a particular instance or situation requiring attention, especially in legal and social contexts. 'Work', from Old English weorc, retains its core meaning of labor or effort. Combined in the early 20th century, the term literally means "work on individual cases," specifically denoting the systematic, person-by-person approach in social services, where each client's unique situation ('case') is the focus of professional effort ('work').
Analysis
Structure: case + work
- case: From Latin casus (a falling, an occurrence, a situation). In English, it functions as a noun meaning an instance of a particular situation, a person's situation requiring attention, or a matter under investigation.
- work: From Old English weorc (something done, an act, a task). In English, it functions as a noun meaning activity involving mental or physical effort done to achieve a purpose.
Examples
She has years of experience in social casework with families in crisis.
Effective casework requires strong interpersonal skills and meticulous record-keeping.
His research compares the outcomes of different models of clinical casework.