Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CARE, n. [Sax. car, cara; Goth. kar, kara; Ir. car; L. cura. In Welch, cur is care, anxiety; also, a blow, or beating, a throb; curaw, to beat, strike, or throb, to fight; curiaw, to trouble, vex, pine, or waste away. In L. curo signifies to care, and to cure. In Sp. curar is to prescribe medicine; to salt or cure, as flesh; to season, as timber; to bleach, as cloth; intransitively, to recover from sickness; and reciprocally, to take care of one's self. In Italian, curare is to cure, attend, protect, defend, and to value or esteem. In French, curer is to cleanse; “curer les dens,” to pick the teeth; cure is a benefice. The primary sense is, to strain, or stretch, as in care, attention, and curious is stretching forward; but the sense of separating, or driving off, is comprehended, which gives the French sense, and the sense of prying into is included in curious. The sense of healing is from that of care, or making sound and strong. The Welch sense of beating is from driving, thrusting, coinciding with straining. See Cark and Cure.]

1. Concern; anxiety; solicitude; noting some degree of pain in the mind, from apprehension of evil. They shall eat bread by weight and with care. – Ezek. iv.
2. Caution; a looking to; regard; attention, or heed, with a view to safety or protection, as in the phrase, “take care of yourself.” A want of care does more damage than a want of knowledge. – Franklin.
3. Charge or oversight, implying concern for safety and prosperity; as, he was under the care of a physician. That which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. – 2 Cor. xi.
4. The object of care, or watchful regard and attention; as, “Is she thy care?” – Dryden.