werg-

To do. Oldest form *werg̑-, becoming *werg- in centum languages.

Derivatives include work, allergy, surgery, wrought, and orgy.

I. Suffixed form *werg-o-.

1.

a. work; handiwork, from Old English weorc, werc, work;

b. boulevard, bulwark, from Old High German werc, work. Both a and b from Germanic *werkam, work.

2. erg, ergative, -urgy; adrenergic, allergy, argon, cholinergic, demiurge, dramaturge, endergonic, endoergic, energy, ergograph, ergometer, ergonomics, exergonic, exergue, exoergic, georgic, hypergolic, lethargy, liturgy, metallurgy, surgery, synergid, synergism, thaumaturge, from Greek ergon, work, action.

II. Zero-grade form *wr̥g-.

1. Suffixed forms *wr̥g-yo-, *wr̥g-to-.

a. wrought, from Old English wyrcan, to work;

b. irk, from Old Norse yrkja, to work. Both a and b from Germanic *wurkjan, to work, participle *wurhta-.

2. Suffixed form *wr̥g-t-. wright, from Old English wryhta, maker, wright, from Germanic *wurhtjō-.

III. O-grade form *worg-.

a. organ, organon, from Greek organon (with suffix -ano-), tool;

b. orgy, from Greek orgia, secret rites, worship (< “service”).

 

[Pokorny 2. u̯erg̑- 1168.]

* * *