The spelling of the word "carry about" can be challenging due to the presence of the letter 'r' and the vowel sounds of 'a' and 'i'. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is represented as /ˈkæri əˈbaʊt/. The first syllable 'car' is pronounced with the vowel sound of 'æ' as in 'cat'. The second syllable 'ry' has the vowel sound of 'i' as in 'fit'. The third syllable 'a' is pronounced with the 'ə' schwa sound and the last syllable 'bout' has the diphthong vowel sound of 'aʊ' as in 'house'.
Carry about is a phrasal verb that has a couple of different meanings. The first definition of carry about is to physically transport or bear something from one place to another. It implies the act of holding, supporting, or conveying an object while moving it around. For instance, one might carry about a heavy box while they move it to a new location or carry about their personal belongings in a backpack while traveling.
Another meaning of carry about is to have or constantly keep something with oneself. It refers to possessing or having something on one's person at all times in order to be prepared or have it readily available when needed. This could include carrying about a wallet, keys, or a mobile phone in one's pocket or bag. Similarly, it can also refer to carrying about one's identification or important documents as a precautionary measure.
Furthermore, carry about can denote having an idea, thought, or emotion consistently in one's mind or heart. It indicates figuratively holding onto or sustaining a certain mindset or feeling. For example, someone might carry about a sense of determination to achieve their goals or carry about sadness after a loss.
Overall, the phrase carry about encompasses the notions of physically bearing something, possessing an item, or maintaining a mental or emotional state throughout one's activities.
The phrase "carry about" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two separate words.
The word "carry" can be traced back to the Old Northern French "carier" and Old French "charier" with the same meaning of "to transport". These words ultimately derive from the Latin "carrum" meaning "wagon" or "cart".
The proposition "about" comes from Middle English "abuten" or "abuten", which means "around" or "on all sides". It has roots in Old English and Old Norse languages.
When the two words are combined, "carry about" means to transport an object or accompany someone while moving from place to place.