WORRY

I. verb (worried; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English worien, from Old English wyrgan; akin to Old High German wurgen to strangle, Lithuanian veržti to constructionct Date: before 12th century transitive verb choke , strangle , 2. to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat, to shake or pull at with the teeth , to touch or disturb something repeatedly, to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling, 3. to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment ; torment , to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort, to afflict with mental distress or agitation ; make anxious, intransitive verb strangle , choke , to move, proceed, or progress by unceasing or difficult effort ; struggle , to feel or experience concern or anxiety ; fret , worriedly adverb worrier noun ~ingly adverb Synonyms: see: ~ II. noun (plural worries) Date: 1804 1. mental distress or agitation resulting from concern usually for something impending or anticipated ; anxiety , an instance or occurrence of such distress or agitation, a cause of ~ ; trouble , difficulty , see: care