daycare
UK[ˈdeɪkeə(r)]US[ˈdeɪker]
n
A place where young children are cared for during the day while their parents are at work.
n
The care provided at such a place.
Morpheme Breakdown
day
care
day
time
care
attention
Etymology
The word 'daycare' is a modern English compound formed from two native Old English roots. 'Day' originates from Proto-Germanic 'dagaz', referring to the period of daylight, which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root 'dhegh-', meaning 'to burn' or 'day'. 'Care' stems from Proto-Germanic 'karō', meaning 'lament' or 'grief', related to the concept of burden. The compound logically combines these elements to specify a service providing supervision and attention specifically during the daytime hours. This reflects the 20th-century social need for institutionalized child supervision while parents are occupied with work outside the home, evolving the literal 'daytime care' into a standard term for such facilities.
Analysis
Structure: day (time) + care (attention)
- day: From Old English 'dæg', meaning the period of light between sunrise and sunset. In this compound, it indicates the time period during which the service operates.
- care: From Old English 'caru', meaning sorrow, anxiety, or serious mental attention. Its meaning evolved to denote the provision of protection, supervision, and attention.
Examples
The company offers an on-site daycare for employees' children.
Finding affordable, quality daycare can be a challenge for new parents.
She works part-time so she doesn't have to rely on full-time daycare.