English
energetic
Energetic comes from Ancient Greek ἐνεργητικός ‘Able to act on’, from ἐνεργέω ‘to be active’, 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 BCEἔργον‘work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργόςenergós‘active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργέωenergéō‘to be active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργητικόςenergētikós‘Able to act on’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900energeticus
- Englishearliest quotation 1801energetic
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 BCEἔργον‘work’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργόςenergós‘active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργέωenergéō‘to be active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργητικόςenergētikós‘Able to act on’
- New Latinc. 1500–1900energeticus
- Englishearliest quotation 1801energetic
Earliest quotation: 1801, Abraham Bishop, An Oration on the Extent and Power of Political Delusion: “They are even now insulted with all the arguments…”
Equivalent to energy + -etic
Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
…
Ancient Greek ἐνεργός ‘active’
Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια ‘activity’
Late Latin energia
Middle French énergie
English energy
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, wright, organic, organ, boulevard, orgasm, wrought, liturgy, bulwark, metallurgy, irk, irksome, wark, 22 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work’
Today it means
adj Possessing or pertaining to energy.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / energetic