Careful
/ˈkɛr.fəl/noun
Showing caution, attention, or concern; done with care.
Did you know?The root behind *care* goes back to Proto-Germanic *karō*, meaning grief or sorrow, so the word’s history is tangled with pain, concern, and emotional burden.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵer-
“to cry out, lament”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*karō
“care, sorrow, grief”
Old English
OE
carful
“full of sorrow or care; troubled”
Middle English
ME
careful
“full of care; anxious, troubled”
Modern English
EN
careful
“cautious; attentive; taking pains”