English
ergal
Ergal comes from Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work or deed of war’, and goes back to 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’
- Englishtodayergal
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’
- Englishtodayergal
The story
Coined by Rudolf Clausius in 1870 (On a Mechanical Theorem Applicable to Heat), derived from Ancient Greek ἔργον (érgon).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- ‘to make’
working, wright, organic, boulevard, organize, organ, wrought, orgasm, liturgy, bulwark, metallurgy, irk, irksome, wark, 19 more
through Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom ‘work’
through Ancient Greek ἔργον ‘work or deed of war’
Today it means
noun potential energy; negative value of the force function
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- / ergal