weary
/ˈwɪəri/
Definition
Feeling very tired, especially after a long effort or a difficult experience.
Example
She was weary after the long journey home.
Show translation
She was very tired after the long journey home.
Etymology
From Old English *wērig* ("tired, exhausted"), related to Old High German *wuorag* ("intoxicated"). The root may trace back to Proto-Germanic *wōrigaz*, possibly connected to the idea of being worn down or drained. The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning for over a thousand years of English.
Cultural note
*Weary* appears throughout classic English literature — from Shakespeare ("I am weary of this moon") to spirituals like *Swing Low, Sweet Chariot*, which speaks of being "weary" of the burden of life. Note the common confusion with *wary* (meaning cautious or watchful) — a false friend even among native speakers.