worrisome
Meaning
causing worry or anxiety.
inclined to worry.
Structure
Usage
the patient's persistent cough is a worrisome symptom.
she has a worrisome habit of forgetting to lock the door.
the latest economic report presented a worrisome trend for investors.
Etymology
The word "worrisome" is a relatively Modern English formation, emerging in the late 16th century. It combines the verb "worry," which itself has a vivid history from Old English wyrgan (to strangle), a meaning that softened over time to signify mental harassment or distress. The adjectival suffix "-some," of Germanic origin, is added to indicate a quality or tendency, as seen in words like "tiresome" or "quarrelsome." Thus, "worrisome" literally means "characterized by causing worry," directly linking the action of distressing the mind to the quality of being apt to produce that state.
Analysis
"worry" is from old english wyrgan, meaning 'to strangle', later evolving to 'to harass, cause distress'. its functional role is the core semantic root. "some" is an old english suffix -sum, meaning 'characterized by, tending to', which forms adjectives.