Painful inflammations or wounds on skin; or causing pain and soreness.
From Old English 'sār,' related to Old Norse 'sárr,' both meaning 'painful' or 'sore.' The word's root may connect to meanings of 'cutting' or 'tearing,' since wounds cut the skin.
The word 'sore' originally just meant 'painful' in general—only later did it specifically mean wounds or infections, showing how our language narrows meanings over time.
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