Where does “energy” come from?

Energy comes from Middle French énergie, from Late Latin energia, from Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια, ultimately derived from ἔργον meaning work.

energy (English): The impetus behind all motion and all activity;...

Definitions

  1. The impetus behind all motion and all activity;...

Ancestry of “energy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchénergie
2Late Latinenergiaenergy; efficiency
3Ancient Greekἐνέργειαactivity, operation, vigour; workmanship;...
4Ancient Greekἐνεργήςactive, effective
5Ancient Greekἐνεργόςat work, active
6Ancient Greekἐν-in, within; on
7Ancient Greekἐνin, on, at; among; in, at, or during the time of
8Ancient Greekδέρμαskin, hide
9Ancient Greekγλυφήcarving, carved work; hole cut
10Ancient Greek-ῐ́ᾱ{{l|en|-ia}}; "suffix forming abstract feminine...
11Proto-Indo-European-íh₂
12Proto-Indo-European-h₂Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups...

Words derived from “energy

Every word from Proto-Indo-European -h₂