Where does “make-work” come from?
make-work (English) comes from English make, from Middle English make, from Middle English maken, from Old English macian, from Emilian mâcia, from Latin Macula, from Proto-Indo-European smh₁-tleh₂, from Proto-Indo-European smeh₁- — smear, rub.
make-work (English): An activity or task assigned or undertaken for...
Definitions
- An activity or task assigned or undertaken for...
Ancestry of “make-work”, step by step
make-work traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English make
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | make | To create; To behave, to act; To tend; to... |
| 2 | Middle English | make | Alternative form of maken; easy |
| 3 | Middle English | maken | To make or create; to have something made |
| 4 | Old English | macian | to make |
| 5 | Emilian | mâcia | spot, stain |
| 6 | Latin | Macula | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | smh₁-tleh₂ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | smeh₁- | smear, rub |