sore
UK[sɔː]US[sɔːr]
adj
(of a part of the body) painful and aching because of injury, infection, or too much use
adj
upset and angry, especially because you feel you have been treated unfairly
n
a painful, often red, area on the body caused by an injury or infection
Etymology
The word 'sore' originates from the Old English 'sār', which meant "painful, grievous, aching," and was also used as a noun for "pain, sickness, wound." This Old English term is traced back to the Proto-Germanic 'sairaz', meaning "painful, sick," and further to the Proto-Indo-European root 'sai-', conveying the sense of "suffering." The semantic journey is direct and visceral, moving from a general concept of physical suffering and injury in its ancient roots to its modern dual application describing both physical tenderness and emotional resentment. The logic of its modern meanings is clear: emotional upset is metaphorically understood as a kind of psychic ache or tenderness.
Analysis
The word 'sore' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
My muscles are really sore after yesterday's workout.
She's still sore about not being invited to the meeting.
The cold sore on his lip made it painful to eat.