Caregiver
Care
Exploring the etymology of the word ‘care’ can be tricky. Care can be both something we have (‘the care of the house’, ‘the cares of the world’) and something we do (“I’ll take care of that”, “Take care”) or not do (“I don’t care!”).
These different uses and meanings of the word care are a result of the word having different origins—sort of like a person is the result of four grandparents!
One meaning of the word care comes from Latin cura and curare (to take care of), from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root kweys (to heed). Latin curare is the source of the late 14th century English word cure (to restore to health or a sound state), from Old French curer. This medical use of ‘care’ suggests that to care is to make something better. To care is to cure.
On the other hand, would you be surprised to learn that the origins of the word care are also found in PIE gar (to cry out, to call, to scream)? From this PIE source came Proto-Germanic karo (lament, grief, care) the source of Old Saxon kara (sorrow), Old High German chara (wail, lament), Gothic kara (sorrow, trouble, care), and German Karfreitag (Good Friday). Proto-Germanic kara is also the source of Old English caru, cearu (sorrow, anxiety, grief; burdens of mind; serious mental attention; concern and anxiety caused by apprehension of evil or the weight of many burdens). The Old English word cearian (to be anxious or solicitous; to grieve, to feel concern or interest) emerges from these roots and comes to us as the word care.
It is almost as if ‘to care’ means to share in the suffering of the one being cared for. It would seem that the word care, as reflected in its origins, first of all reflects empathetic responses to pain and suffering. (Similarly, the origins of the word compassion are from ancient words meaning ‘to suffer with’ or ‘to co-suffer’). These words indicate not only what care is but what it is that is ‘cared for’.
Giver
The word giver is from the mid-14th century. It comes from Old English / West Saxon giefan (to give, bestow, deliver to another; to commit, devote, entrust) which is from Proto-Germanic geban and the PIE root ghabh (to give or receive). Similar old Germanic words include Old Frisian jeva, Middle Dutch gheven, Dutch geven, Old High German geban, and German geben.
Caregiver
The word caregiver, from 1974, means one who looks after the physical needs at home of the sick, aged, disabled, and so on. The word has, in many senses, the same meaning as caretaker. You would think that care ‘taker’ would be the opposite of care ‘giver’ but that is not the case.
Reference:
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cura
Exploring the etymology of the word ‘care’ can be tricky. Care can be both something we have (‘the care of the house’, ‘the cares of the world’) and something we do (“I’ll take care of that”, “Take care”) or not do (“I don’t care!”).
These different uses and meanings of the word care are a result of the word having different origins—sort of like a person is the result of four grandparents!
One meaning of the word care comes from Latin cura and curare (to take care of), from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root kweys (to heed). Latin curare is the source of the late 14th century English word cure (to restore to health or a sound state), from Old French curer. This medical use of ‘care’ suggests that to care is to make something better. To care is to cure.
On the other hand, would you be surprised to learn that the origins of the word care are also found in PIE gar (to cry out, to call, to scream)? From this PIE source came Proto-Germanic karo (lament, grief, care) the source of Old Saxon kara (sorrow), Old High German chara (wail, lament), Gothic kara (sorrow, trouble, care), and German Karfreitag (Good Friday). Proto-Germanic kara is also the source of Old English caru, cearu (sorrow, anxiety, grief; burdens of mind; serious mental attention; concern and anxiety caused by apprehension of evil or the weight of many burdens). The Old English word cearian (to be anxious or solicitous; to grieve, to feel concern or interest) emerges from these roots and comes to us as the word care.
It is almost as if ‘to care’ means to share in the suffering of the one being cared for. It would seem that the word care, as reflected in its origins, first of all reflects empathetic responses to pain and suffering. (Similarly, the origins of the word compassion are from ancient words meaning ‘to suffer with’ or ‘to co-suffer’). These words indicate not only what care is but what it is that is ‘cared for’.
Giver
The word giver is from the mid-14th century. It comes from Old English / West Saxon giefan (to give, bestow, deliver to another; to commit, devote, entrust) which is from Proto-Germanic geban and the PIE root ghabh (to give or receive). Similar old Germanic words include Old Frisian jeva, Middle Dutch gheven, Dutch geven, Old High German geban, and German geben.
Caregiver
The word caregiver, from 1974, means one who looks after the physical needs at home of the sick, aged, disabled, and so on. The word has, in many senses, the same meaning as caretaker. You would think that care ‘taker’ would be the opposite of care ‘giver’ but that is not the case.
Reference:
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cura
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