English
allergy
Allergy comes from German Allergie, from Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work or deed of war’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργονérgon‘work or deed of war’
- Germanc. 1650–presentAllergie
- Englishtodayallergy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*werǵ-‘to make’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wérǵom‘work’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*wérgon‘work’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔργονérgon‘work or deed of war’
- Germanc. 1650–presentAllergie
- Englishtodayallergy
The story
Coined by Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet in 1906 from Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos, “other”) + ἔργον (érgon, “work, activity”), on the model of Energie.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, organic, wright, organ, boulevard, orgasm, wrought, liturgy, bulwark, irk, irksome, wark, metallurgy, 21 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work or deed of war’
Today it means
noun A disorder of the immune system causing adverse reactions to substances (allergens) not harmful to most and marked by the body's production of histamines and associated with atopy, anaphylaxis, and asthma; any condition of hypersensitivity to a substance.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / allergy