More occupied with work or activity than before; having more things to do.
From Old English 'bysig' meaning occupied or anxious, plus the comparative suffix '-er'. The word evolved from Germanic roots and originally meant 'concerned' or 'anxious' before shifting to mean 'actively occupied'.
The word 'busy' used to mean anxious or worried—people were 'busied' by their concerns! Over centuries, it shifted to mean actively occupied with tasks. This shows how words gradually change their emotional tone as cultures change what preoccupies them most.
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