Where does “ergativeness” come from?
ergativeness (English) comes from English ergative, from Ancient Greek ἐργάτης, from Ancient Greek ἔργον, from Proto-Hellenic wérgon, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.
Ancestry of “ergativeness”, step by step
ergativeness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ergative
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ergative | Used of various situations where the subjects of... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | ἐργάτης | worker, workman, labourer; capstan, windlass,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἔργον | deed, doing, action; labour, work, task;... |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | wérgon | work |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wérǵom | work |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | werǵ- | to make |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |