Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “work” come from?

Work comes from Middle English werk, from Old English wyrċan, from Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ-, from Proto-Indo-European wer-, from Proto-Indo-European wreg-.

work (English): "Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...

Definitions

  1. "Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...

Ancestry of “work”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlacquerworkArtistic or decorative work made with lacquer
2EnglishlacquerA glossy, resinous material used as a surface...
3Frenchlacquea sort of sealing wax
4Portugueselacalake; lac
5Persianلاک—
6Urduلاکھlakh, lac
7Maharastri Prakrit𑀮𑀓𑁆𑀔—
8Sanskritलक्षa mark, sign, token; a mark to aim at, target,...
9Sanskritलक्ष्perceive, observe; recognise; to mark, sign
10Sanskritरक्ष्to protect, guard, watch, take care of, save,...
11Proto-Indo-AryanHrakṣ-—
12Proto-Indo-IranianHrakš-—
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂lek-to protect

Words derived from “work”

  • working
  • network
  • workplace
  • workshop
  • workforce
  • internet
  • networking
  • homework
  • workflow
  • paperwork
  • workload
  • worksheet
  • teamwork
  • workout
  • groundwork
  • workable
  • housework
  • workbook
  • workspace
  • workhouse
  • workstation
  • patchwork
  • hardworking
  • coursework
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek- →