English
energy
Energy comes from Middle French énergie, from Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια ‘activity’, from ἐνεργός ‘active’ (ἐν ‘in’ + ἔργον ‘work’), ultimately from PIE *werǵ-.
- 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’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργόςenergós‘active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνέργειαenérgeia‘activity’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEenergia
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600énergie
- Englishearliest quotation 1915energy
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’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνεργόςenergós‘active’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐνέργειαenérgeia‘activity’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEenergia
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600énergie
- Englishearliest quotation 1915energy
Earliest quotation: 1915, George A. Birmingham pseudonym; James Ow, New York: “There is an hour or two, after the passengers…”
The story
The sense in physics was coined by English polymath Thomas Young in 1802 in his lectures on Natural Philosophy.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, wright, organic, organ, boulevard, wrought, orgasm, bulwark, liturgy, metallurgy, irk, irksome, wark, 22 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work or deed of war’
Today it means
noun The impetus behind all motion and all activity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / energy