worried
Meaning
feeling or showing anxiety or concern about actual or potential problems.
(of a person) anxious and troubled over actual or potential difficulties.
Structure
Usage
she looked worried when she heard the news.
he was worried about his upcoming job interview.
the worried parents waited for a call from the school.
Etymology
The word 'worried' originates from the Old English verb 'wyrgan', which meant 'to strangle' or 'to kill by compressing the throat'. This violent, physical sense evolved metaphorically in Middle English to signify mental harassment or torment, akin to being choked by anxiety. The modern verb 'worry' emerged from this, describing the act of causing or experiencing persistent mental distress. The participial adjective 'worried' thus literally means 'having been subjected to worry', capturing the state of being mentally troubled or anxious, a direct semantic inheritance from its Old English root.
Analysis
worri (from the english verb 'worry', of old english origin, meaning 'to strangle' or 'to harass') + ed (english past participle suffix, forming participial adjectives).