ˈwʌrɪ 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. ønot 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. øøworriedly adv. worrier n. worryingly adv. [OE wyrgan
strangle f. WG]
