Where does “guesswork” come from?
Guesswork derives from Middle English gessen and Old English wyrċan, tracing through Proto-Germanic wurkijaną and Proto-Indo-European werǵ- meaning to work or do.
guesswork (English): An estimate, judgment or opinion made by...
Definitions
- An estimate, judgment or opinion made by...
Ancestry of “guesswork”, step by step
guesswork traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English work
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | work | "Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to... |
| 2 | Middle English | werk | work |
| 3 | Old English | weorc | work, in various senses, including |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | werk | work |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | werką | work |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wérǵom | work |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | werǵ- | to make |
via English guess
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | guess | To reach a partly unqualified conclusion; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | gessen | to guess; to suppose |
| 3 | Old Danish | getse | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | getsa | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | gitisōną | to guess |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | getaną | to attain, acquire, get, receive, hold |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰed- | to defecate |