'world-weary' is an English compound formed from 'world' + 'weary'. 'world' comes from Old English 'weoruld' meaning 'age, human life, the world', and 'weary' comes from Old English 'werig' meaning 'tired'.

'weary' evolved from Old English 'werig' to Middle English forms like 'weri'/'werie', eventually becoming modern English 'weary'. 'world' evolved from Old English 'weoruld' to modern 'world'. The compound 'world-weary' arose in modern English (recorded from the late 18th to early 19th century) as a literal combination that developed figurative senses.

Initially it literally described being 'tired of the world' or life; over time it acquired broader figurative senses of being jaded, cynical, or emotionally exhausted by long experience.