health-care
UK[ˈhelθ keə(r)]US[ˈhelθ ker]
n
The organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community.
Morpheme Breakdown
health
care
health
state of being well
care
provision of services
Etymology
The compound noun 'health-care' is a modern formation from two deeply rooted English words. 'Health' originates from the Old English 'hǣlth', which is built on the concept of 'wholeness' and is related to 'hale' and 'whole', implying a state of complete physical and mental well-being. 'Care' comes from Old English 'caru', denoting concern, attention, and the management of a matter. The fusion of these terms in the 20th century logically creates a concept meaning 'the attention or provision of services related to maintaining or restoring wholeness and well-being', reflecting the organized system it describes today.
Analysis
Structure: health (state of being well) + care (provision of services)
- health: From Old English 'hǣlth', meaning 'wholeness, a being whole'. It is a noun-forming suffix '-th' added to the root of 'whole'.
- care: From Old English 'caru', 'cearu', meaning 'sorrow, anxiety, serious mental attention'. It functions as the core noun indicating the provision of services.
Examples
Access to affordable health-care is a fundamental right.
She works in the public health-care sector.
The debate focused on reforming the national health-care system.