worry

worry
v. & n.
—v. (-ies, -ied)
1 intr. give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.
2 tr. harass, importune; be a trouble or anxiety to.
3 tr. a (of a dog etc.) shake or pull about with the teeth. b attack repeatedly.
4 (as worried adj.) a uneasy, troubled in the mind. b suggesting worry (a worried look).
—n. (pl. -ies)
1 a thing that causes anxiety or disturbs a person's tranquillity.
2 a disturbed state of mind; anxiety; a worried state.
3 a dog's worrying of its quarry.
Phrases and idioms:
not to worry colloq. there is no need to worry. worry along (or through) manage to advance by persistence in spite of obstacles. worry beads a string of beads manipulated with the fingers to occupy or calm oneself. worry-guts (or -wart) colloq. a person who habitually worries unduly. worry oneself (usu. in neg.) take needless trouble. worry out obtain (the solution to a problem etc.) by dogged effort.
Derivatives:
worriedly adv. worrier n. worryingly adv.
Etymology: OE wyrgan strangle f. WG

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • worry — vb Worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease, tantalize can all mean to torment so as to destroy one s peace of mind or to disturb one acutely. Worry stresses incessant attacking or goading and an intention or sometimes an effect of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Worry — Wor ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Worried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Worrying}.] [OE. worowen, wirien, to strangle, AS. wyrgan in [=a]wyrgan; akin to D. worgen, wurgen, to strangle, OHG. wurgen, G. w[ u]rgen, Lith. verszti, and perhaps to E. wring.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worry — Wor ry, n.; pl. {Worries}. A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; fret; as, to be in a worry. The whir and worry of spindle and of loom. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worry — ► VERB (worries, worried) 1) feel or cause to feel troubled over actual or potential difficulties. 2) annoy or disturb. 3) (of a dog or other carnivorous animal) tear at or pull about with the teeth. 4) (of a dog) chase and attack (livestock,… …   English terms dictionary

  • worry — [wʉr′ē] vt. worried, worrying [ME wirwen < OE wyrgan, to strangle, injure, akin to Ger würgen, to strangle < IE * werĝh , to twist, choke < base * wer , to twist > WORM] 1. a) to harass or treat roughly with or as with continual… …   English World dictionary

  • worry — [n] anxiety, trouble anguish, annoyance, apprehension, bad news*, care, concern, disquiet, distress, disturbance, doubt, fear, headache*, heartache*, irritation, misery, misgiving, nag*, pain*, perplexity, pest, plague, presentiment, problem,… …   New thesaurus

  • Worry — Wor ry, v. i. To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; as, the child worries; the horse worries. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worry — I noun affliction, annoyance, anxiety, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, consternation, difficulty, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, disquiet, distress, distress one s self, dread, fear, tearfulness, grief, malaise, mental agitation …   Law dictionary

  • worry — wor|ry1 W2S1 [ˈwʌri US ˈwə:ri] v past tense and past participle worried present participle worrying third person singular worries ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(be anxious)¦ 2 don t worry 3¦(make somebody anxious)¦ 4 not to worry 5 nothing to worry about …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • worry — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ big, considerable, great, main, major, serious ▪ Paying the mortgage is a big worry for many people. ▪ Her mothe …   Collocations dictionary

  • worry — 1 verb 1 BE ANXIOUS (I) to be anxious or unhappy about something so that you think about it a lot (+ about): You ve really got no need to worry about your weight. | worry that: He s worried that he might lose his job. (+ over): Dad worries over… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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