Where does “ergative” come from?
Ergative comes from Ancient Greek ἐργάτης, derived from Ancient Greek ἔργον meaning "work," which traces to Proto-Indo-European wérǵom and the root werǵ-.
ergative (English): Used of various situations where the subjects of...
Definitions
- Used of various situations where the subjects of...
Ancestry of “ergative”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ἐργάτης | worker, workman, labourer; capstan, windlass,... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἔργον | deed, doing, action; labour, work, task;... |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | wérgon | work |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wérǵom | work |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | werǵ- | to make |
Words derived from “ergative”