The compound adjective 'war-weary' is a transparent combination of two ancient Germanic roots. The first element, 'war', descends from the Old English 'wyrre', which itself has Proto-Germanic origins related to confusion and strife. The second element, 'weary', stems from the Old English 'wērig', meaning tired, a state of physical or mental exhaustion. The compound logically and literally describes the profound fatigue—both physical and psychological—that results from prolonged exposure to the horrors and stresses of armed conflict. It emerged in the early 20th century, powerfully encapsulating the collective exhaustion of nations and soldiers following the protracted devastation of the First World War.

Structure: war + weary - war (from Old English 'wyrre', 'werre', meaning armed conflict, strife; of Germanic origin) - weary (from Old English 'wērig', meaning tired, exhausted; of Germanic origin)