Where does “outwork” come from?

Outwork derives from Middle English ut- combined with work, tracing back through Old English ūt-, Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, and Proto-Indo-European werǵ-, ultimately from the root wer- meaning to do or make.

outwork (English): To work out to a finish; to complete; To work...

Definitions

  1. To work out to a finish; to complete; To work...

Ancestry of “outwork”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom →Every word from Proto-Germanic werką →