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

  1. Used of various situations where the subjects of...

Ancestry of “ergative”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekἐργάτηςworker, workman, labourer; capstan, windlass,...
2Ancient Greekἔργονdeed, doing, action; labour, work, task;...
3Proto-Hellenicwérgonwork
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

Words derived from “ergative”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom →Every word from Proto-Hellenic wérgon →