gave shelter or protection to someone or something; held onto a feeling or thought secretly.
From 'harbor' (Old English 'herebeorg,' meaning army shelter), which comes from Germanic roots 'here' (army) and 'beorg' (shelter). The metaphorical use (harboring feelings) developed in the 1600s.
The word reveals medieval English—'herebeorg' literally meant 'army's shelter,' because these coastal harbors were crucial military positions for protecting kingdoms from Viking raids!
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