hurt
UK[hɜːt]US[hɜːrt]
v
To cause physical pain or injury to someone or something
v
To cause emotional pain or distress
adj
Physically or emotionally injured or upset
Etymology
The verb 'hurt' entered Middle English from Old French 'hurter', meaning 'to strike, knock, collide with', which is likely of Germanic origin, possibly from Frankish. The core sense of a forceful impact or collision evolved to encompass the resulting damage, both physical and emotional. This semantic broadening from the cause (a blow) to its painful consequences is a common pattern in language evolution. The word's journey reflects a blend of Germanic and Romance influences before solidifying in its modern English form with its dual application to bodily and psychological injury.
Analysis
The word 'hurt' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a unified lexical root.
Examples
Be careful with that knife, you might hurt yourself.
His harsh words hurt her feelings deeply.
She was badly hurt in the accident and taken to the hospital.